STARS College

Exploring Your Career Possibilities.

STARS College allows undergraduate students the chance to learn more about the opportunities afforded with careers in student affairs and campus housing. This virtual event features group presentations, interactive sessions, small discussion groups, and faculty mentors.

STARS College is for undergraduate college students who demonstrate significant interest in campus housing, residence life, and student affairs through their involvement or work experience during their time as an undergraduate.

The STARS College 2024 will take place virtually as a part of Careers in Student Affairs month. Many of the sessions will be held “live” with some content available for participants to review independently before or following some of the sessions. Participants will spend time in large group sessions and time in small learning communities. The learning communities, led by a STARS faculty mentor, are designed to give participants more time to build connections and learn with peers. Registration is now live for STARS College 2024

Schedule

STARS College is designed for students who demonstrate significant interest in campus housing, residence life, and student affairs through their involvement or work experience as undergraduates. Registration is $50 and is limited to 60 students. Participants will receive access to live and recorded sessions, materials, and access to a learning community and faculty mentor.

A STARS College Scholarship is available to attendees who experience a financial barrier to attendance. Funding support for this program comes from the Gary Schwarzmueller Endowment in honor of ACUHO-I’s first executive director and his continued support of developing members in the field of housing and residence life. More information will be available as the event nears.

You can learn more about the STARS College experience by watching this presentation from previous participants.

2025 STARS College Faculty Application and Selection

The Association of College & University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) is seeking members to serve as faculty for STARS College 2025. STARS College faculty bring with them a diverse set of professional skills and competencies from housing/residence life to the broader field of student affairs. STARS College 2025 will be held virtually October 5, 12, and 19, 2025.

Completed applications are due by Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET (US).

Apply

Why be a Faculty Member for STARS College?

Being a faculty member for STARS College affords seasoned housing officers the opportunity to contribute to the field’s development by providing undergraduate students with a venue to reflect and consider a future career in housing and residence life. Ten seasoned housing officers are selected to serve as faculty for the Institute.

Criteria

Contemporary understanding of today’s college student issues including housing and residence life/student affairs, university operations, and the graduate school and/or full-time job application and search processes.
Demonstrated proficiency with presentations and/or teaching; exceptional facilitation skills – especially in a virtual environment.
Understanding of college student learning models and their application to small and large groups
Experience in mentoring college students and/or new professionals
Involvement in professional organizations
Demonstrated progression of responsibility in housing and residence life/student affairs/higher education (at least 10 years of full-time professional experience is required)

Selection

Selection of the faculty will attempt to ensure a diversity of expertise and demographics including:

Professional experience and backgrounds
Institutional type (small/large, public/private, etc.)
Geographic regions
Demographics reflective of ACUHO-I membership

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty are asked to contribute to STARS College in a myriad of ways to ensure the best possible experience for participants:

Faculty will support a cluster of participants. Faculty will have conversations about content discussed throughout STARS College, participants’ career interests, and overall experiences in higher education.
Faculty may serve as a conduit to highlight how topics are interconnected. Faculty will ensure participants understand the thread between sessions and relevance to future roles in Housing and Residence Life.
Faculty will peer-review sessions to provide feedback and consultation so that learning outcomes and association values are reflected in content sessions.
Returning faculty may serve as a role model for new faculty before and during STARS College.
Faculty members must be able to participate in a video orientation call held in January 2025.
Faculty will meet monthly with other faculty members and Work Group Leaders. Specific dates and times to be determined based on availability.
Faculty will contact their cohort of STARS College participants before the event.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be selecting at least five (5) faculty members, who will serve a two-year appointment at STARS College 2025 and 2026.

Application Process

Applicants must complete the online ACUHO-I Common Faculty Application in full.
Applicants must submit a current résumé/CV
Applicants will respond to the following questions on the application form:

Why do you want to serve as a STARS College faculty member?
What kind of experience(s) do you hope to gain from a STARS College faculty role?
What additional details would you like the selection committee to consider that were not requested in the application materials?

Future of the Profession