NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University was the host of this year’s National Conference of the Tennessee Association of College and University Housing Officers (TACUHO) on the TSU Avon Williams campus. The two-day conference, held on Oct. 14-15, brought together nearly 80 housing practitioners from institutions across the state, focused on sharing best practices in campus housing through educational sessions, networking opportunities, and interactions with corporate partners dedicated to enhancing residence life.
Dr. Bridgett Golman, TSU’s Vice President of Student Affairs, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration among institutions.
“Tennessee State University is glad to be chosen for this all-important conference. It is all about building best practices and truly working together, and the best way to do that is to collaborate with our sister institutions around the state,” Golman said. “Our expectation is that participants will take these best practices and implement them for the continued improvement of services provided to our students.”
Robert F. Perkins, president of TACUHO, expressed gratitude to Dr. Golman, the TSU staff, and the university community for hosting the conference. He noted that the conference’s goal was to unite like-minded professionals in student affairs to brainstorm ways to enhance their institutions for the benefit of students and their housing environments. “The expectation is for everyone to learn from each other and take valuable insights back to their organizations and departments, which would ultimately benefit the students,” Perkins noted.
One of the highlights of the conference included a session led by Dr. Robbie Melton, TSU’s Vice President for Technology and Innovation. Melton, who also serves as interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, showcased immersive technology and artificial intelligence at the TSU SMART Center.
“We utilized state-of-the-art AI for teaching, learning, research, and workforce development, particularly within the housing area,” Melton explained. “Participants are given the opportunity to experience AI tools along with mixed reality, artificial reality, academic eSports, and digital podcasting, all while considering the legal and ethical implications of AI in the future of student housing.”
Dr. Brent Dukhi, Interim Executive Director of Residence Life and Housing and Assistant Dean for Student Support, expressed enthusiasm about hosting the TACUHO conference. “The conference will aid in the professional development of all housing staff by fostering workshops and discussions that cultivate skills and insights beneficial to campus living environments,” Dukhi said.
The conference stood as a significant opportunity for networking, learning, and advancing best practices across Tennessee’s higher education institutions, committed to improving student housing experiences.