In this Issue:
The Leadership Viewpoint | Featured Stories | Network Updates | ACHA News & Highlights | Call to Action
The Leadership Viewpoint
Welcoming a New Year of Purpose, Partnership, and Progress
As the new academic year kicks off, ACHA President Andreea Baker and CEO Raphael Florestal-Kevelier share a message of gratitude, community, and vision for the year ahead.
Featured Stories
Member Q & A: Finding Your Voice in Front of Your Peers
In this Q&A, Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee Chair April Lehrling, MS, RN-C, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, shares a personal journey to the presenter stage and why every institutional voice belongs at ACHA.
Showcasing the Power of College Health & Well-Being
We're launching a new storytelling initiative to feature our members' incredible impact on campus and in their communities and prove a vital point: health and well-being professionals directly drive student persistence, retention, and success.
Around the Community
ACHA Network Updates
See what vital projects our sections, coalitions, committees, task forces, and affiliates are driving forward this quarter.
ACHA News & Highlights
Catch up on recent organizational achievements, announcements, and other news.
Benchmark Your Campus Impact: The AY 25–26 Institutional Profile Survey Is Coming
ACHA's Data Hub is a powerful tool for colleges and universities to benchmark health services, identify emerging trends, and make data-informed decisions that improve student well-being.
The AY 2025-2026 Institutional Profile Survey will be released September 10, 2026. It’s an important part of getting access to the ACHA Data Hub, so make sure your institution is prepared! To get access to the ACHA Data Hub in 2027, your institution must complete two important steps: complete the IPS and renew your membership.
Join the Free Beyond Backpacks Travel Health Pilot
The American College Health Foundation is recruiting campuses to participate in the Beyond Backpacks online travel health education pilot. Designed to prepare students for safe international travel, this interactive, expert-developed program can be seamlessly integrated into your institution's learning management system or accessed via a direct link.
This is a great opportunity to introduce or expand pre-travel health education on your campus before annual subscription pricing begins for the 2027–2028 academic year.
Preparedness Meets Practice: Updated Emergency Planning Guidelines
ACHA's updated Emergency Planning Guidelines utilize a national “all-hazards” model, focusing on building core capacities and capabilities that prepare institutions for a broad spectrum of emergencies—whether an act of violence, a natural or manmade disaster, or an emerging public health threat.
The document bridges the gap between high-level strategy and daily clinical operations.
Be Outbreak Ready with ACHA's Updated Mumps Toolkit
ACHA's recently updated Mumps Outbreak Toolkit highlights steps for educating parents, students, and staff about mumps prevention and control. The toolkit includes social media images and sample posts, a printable poster and website image, and talking points that help campuses communicate about outbreaks on campus and the importance of MMR vaccination.
Shape the Future of Our Field: Call for Proposals
The Call for Programs and Posters for the ACHA 2027 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia is open!
The strength of the ACHA community lies in our shared wisdom. Every day, teams across the country are reimagining student care, navigating complex health landscapes, and breaking new ground. When you present a poster or lead a session, you turn your campus’s local success into a national blueprint—driving innovation and raising the standard of care for students everywhere.
Partnering for Greater Impact
As you prepare your proposal, we encourage you to think beyond what you do for students and highlight what you do with students. The most impactful work in higher education happens when students are true partners in the process. From administrative initiatives and peer education to wellness promotion, advocacy, research, and leadership development, student perspectives strengthen every facet of our field.
We invite you to submit proposals that showcase meaningful student engagement. Better yet, consider bringing your student leaders and professionals-in-training to Philadelphia as co-presenters—their lived experiences, insights, and authentic voices can transform a session.
Do you have a project, program, or research study that could inspire your peers? Step into the spotlight and spark the conversations that will move higher education health forward.
Submission Deadlines
Program Proposals: September 21
Poster Proposals: October 27
Submit your proposal today and help build a healthier, more connected future together!
