ACUBO is a term established to refer collectively to the five professional associations (CACUBO, EACUBO, NACUBO, SACUBO, WACUBO) dedicated to higher education business management. This term developed out of the ongoing initiative of the five associations to collaborate. The leadership of these five groups representing college and university business and financial officers came together in the late 1990s to identify strategies to maximize the resources and services of the ACUBOs through collaboration, joint planning and coordination of initiatives. The five associations adopted the following vision statement:

The ACUBOs seek a redefinition and alignment of
their respective missions, values and desired
outcomes, aimed at increasing the overall value of
the ACUBO membership.

The five associations have developed the initiative to the point where is recognized as a fundamental part of how the associations do business, known as the ACUBO Innovation Process.

ACUBO Long-Term Goals:

• Build an infrastructure for collaborative efforts
• Develop greater capacity for the ACUBOs as a group
• Improve efficiency by capitalizing on strengths, minimizing duplication and reforming processes
  

In order for the ACUBO Innovation Process to be effective, the leadership of the ACUBOs developed a structure for development of initiatives and the governance of the process. These are, respectively, the ACUBO Innovation Council and the ACUBO Steering Committee.

ACUBO Innovation Council (AIC)

• Membership includes two representatives from each regional association (one officer and one at-large appointment)
  
• NACUBO President and key staff also serve on the AIC
  
• NACUBO Board representative is a member of AIC
  
• The AIC develops and recommends initiatives to the ACUBO Steering Committee

ACUBO Steering Committee (ACS)

• Membership includes the current and immediate past president of each regional association
  
• The NACUBO President and the incoming NACUBO Board Chair also are ASC members
  
• The ASC approves AIC-developed projects for implementation
  The ASC allocates resources from the ACUBO innovation fund established by financial contributions from each of the ACUBOs
  

Completed ACUBO Innovation Process Projects

• A web-based integrated program calendar listing professional development programs sponsored by all of the ACUBOs, with search capabilities and linkages to on-line registration
  
• A speaker and topic database to be used by volunteer committees and NACUBO staff in developing professional development programming

Current ACUBO Innovation Process Projects Underway

• Delivery of a cost-effective, market-tested professional development program via distance learning to community colleges
  
• Establishment of a technology platform using web-based images with two-way, telephone-based audio for delivering programs by and to all ACUBOs