History
What is ACUA?
On February 24, 1958, Fred Vorsanger of Purdue University and Stanley Smith of the University of Illinois, unbeknownst to them at the time, were on a mission from the ACUA gods. They circulated to the other Big 10 schools the idea of forming a group to meet and discuss mutual audit issues. The first meeting took place at the La Salle Hotel in Chicago on Monday April 7, 1958. It lasted from 9 am to 3 pm and included eight of the Big 10 schools. Participants were so pleased with the results that they agreed to meet again that same year! Gathered at Northwestern University that December, 19 people representing 11 universities decided to form the Association of College and University Auditors. ACUA was born!
The founders created a Board of Directors (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) and Bylaws, a format which remains true today except for the addition of five "members at large" to the Board beginning in 1992. These positions were created to ensure that the majority of Board members are elected, and to provide opportunities for additional volunteer service, a format which remains true today except for the addition of five "members at large" to the Board beginning in 1992. These positions were created to ensure that the majority of Board members are elected, and to provide opportunities for additional volunteer service.
Annual Conferences follow much the same format as they did in the beginning: days in workshops, evenings devoted to "networking opportunities" disguised as social functions! The combination of camaraderie and a focus on issues which relate to internal auditing in higher education continue to serve as the foundation for all ACUA activities today.
ACUA's first controversy occurred in 1972 at the University of Georgia when the attendees voted to change the name of the organization to "National Association of College and University Internal Auditors" (NACUIA). Lucky for those of us who don't want to learn how to pronounce NACUIA, the name was changed back the next day. Whew!
The first Midyear Seminar was held in 1980 in St. Louis and one has been held every spring since. The Seminar often draws more staff auditors than the Conference, and reached a peak (so far!) attendance of 279 in San Antonio in 2006. Membership rose to 252 schools in 1973, and currently stands at about 550. Attendance averages around 400 at Annual Conferences, and around 180 at Midyear Seminars.
A huge part of the ACUA experience (and a valuable part of ACUA membership) is the listserv, ACUA-L. Formed in 1989 by Chuck Jefferis of the University of Vermont (in the days before many auditors had access to email), it has grown to nearly 1,000 individuals and dozens of messages per day. Conversations range from NCAA compliance auditing to Fraud Policy drafts to the occasional weather report, and the list both demonstrates and promotes the feeling of "family" that is ACUA.
There are, of course, numerous less-serious milestones related to ACUA. ACUA's unofficial theme has always been "We take our jobs seriously, but not ourselves," and the kinds of goofy situations we often get into at Conferences and Midyears tend to bear that out. Examples: Myrtle Beach, Phoenix, Orlando.
One of the more bizarre ACUA milestones is the "ACUA Towel." Traditionally thrown (and used) at ACUA dances, the first one was found washed ashore in Newport, Rhode Island, during the 1988 Conference. It has become a true (though goofy, and frequently unpleasant!) symbol of the camaraderie of ACUA.
ACUA even has its own song: "YMCA" by the Village people, although of course we sing "ACUA" and form the appropriate letters (more or less!) while doing so. The original ACUA song was "I am an ACUA dandy," first sung in 1992 at the University of Alabama - Birmingham, but as there is no "dance" version of it, it has fallen by the wayside. This photo shows the ACUA masses trying to make the "C" in ACUA. This looks like an "A," with one "O" thrown in for good measure.
ACUA's "dance events" have been going on since the inception of the organization and today are the social highlight of Conferences and Seminars. In recent years a theme has often been chosen for the dinner/dances, including "Auditors in Black," "Hawaiian shirts" (at a Seminar in San Antonio, just to show how contrary auditors can be!), "Animal Prints, "and "Plaid People," a theme which was a feast for the eyes, to put it mildly.
Louisville (Diamonds and Denim)
Portland (Be Spotted)
Washington, DC (Mardi Gras)
Nashville (1950s)
Salt Lake City (Patriotic)
Orlando (Safari)
Phoenix (Plaid)
ACUA, like many organizations, has several members married to other members (usually from different member schools). However, I have yet to come across an organization that has had a member get married during a Conference! Norm Coffman and his wife May were married in 1991 at the Little White Chapel in between workshops at the Conference held in Salt Lake City. How's that for a "family" organization?
A huge "thank you" to Willis Nordhem (retired from Northwestern University) and Chuck Jefferis (still going strong at the University of Vermont) for remembering, compiling, and sharing all this information about ACUA. Lest we forget!