The ACUHO-I Award: Donald Kilbourn
The ACUHO-I Award is the highest recognition by the Association of a person who has made outstanding contributions to ACUHO-I and the housing and food service professions. Presented only after retirement, the award recognizes distinguished and extraordinary service. A list of previous winners is here.
If your students enjoy their private or semi-private bathrooms, they have Donald Kilbourn to thank.
Kilbourn was the first full-time housing administrator at Central Michigan University, where suites with bathrooms were introduced to the housing world. Kilbourn, rather than assuming what students wanted, asked for their opinions. In a process that is now familiar to housing professionals throughout our organization, he arranged for mock-ups of the suites to be provided for student viewing and comments before the final design was put in place. Kilbourn was among a pioneering group of housing professionals who considered students critical partners in the management process, responsible for their own happiness in student housing.
Kilbourn also served as ACUHO president from 1956-57. During that time, he proposed several initiatives that still have a considerable impact on the ACUHO-I of today: training programs for housing professionals, recruiting programs, encouraging smaller institutions to join, and concentrating our energies where they can best serve the membership.
In his President’s report, he made the following recommendations:
1. I believe we should consider the idea, proposed by Mrs. Curtis of the University of Colorado, of supporting a training program for housing personnel. I recommend that a committee be appointed to study the possibilities of such a program.
2. Somewhat associated with the above is the problem of recruiting and retaining qualified housing and food service personnel. This involves such areas as pay, prestige, workload and role. It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain and keep qualified staff. We must face up to the problem in the near future and I believe we should begin to study the situation now.
3. Concentrate on expanding the membership of the smaller schools. These institutions, for the most part, need our help.
4. As the services of the Association are expanded, we shall have to be careful to keep our efforts channeled in those directions which have merit and refrain from dissipating energy in areas where we are not prepared to function effectively.
In Conclusion: I came in contact with several housing officers, Deans, Counselors and Business Managers. The interest and enthusiasm which these people have for ACUHO is a tribute to those who have directed the affairs of the Association in previous years. The most gratifying aspect of my year as President has been the cooperation I have received. Without exception, assignments were accepted and carried out enthusiastically. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President. Please accept my sincere thanks for the opportunity.
Excerpt taken from How Suite Is Your Suite? A History of Housing at Central Michigan University
ACUHO-I and the housing profession owe a great deal to Kilbourn, and the ACUHO-I Award is an opportunity to thank him for all he has done for us.
Thank you is also due to Joanie Schmidt, 2002 ACUHO-I president, for her thoughtful and thorough nomination letter.
Tags: Awards