THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES
ACUI (Association of College Unions International) is a 110-year-old non-profit professional association serving college union and student activities professionals at higher education institutions across eight global regions through tiered institutional membership, online education, certification, conferences, and corporate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1914
- HeadquartersBloomington Springs, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES does
ACUI (Association of College Unions International) is a 501(c)-style non-profit professional association founded in 1914 and headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. It serves college union and student affairs professionals at higher education institutions and the corporate vendors that supply them, organized through eight geographic regions covering the United States, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, and Qatar.
ACUI's product portfolio is anchored by tiered institutional membership (Premium, Full, and Digital) priced from $345 to $4,945 annually based on IPEDS full-time enrollment, plus individual and associate/corporate memberships at $999/year. The core technology is an online education platform and learning management system that delivers Full Courses ($199 members), Mini-Courses ($120), a Training Hub microlearning library ($10/program or $150/library), Content Packages ($250), webinars, roundtables, and CSAEd-CU certification exams. Events include an Annual Conference (2027 in Baltimore), eight regional conferences annually, and a portfolio of institutes such as I-LEAD, Women's Leadership Institute, Aspiring Directors Institute, Building Managers Institute, IPDS New Professionals Seminar, and a co-produced Collegiate Marketing Institute with NIRSA.
Revenue is diversified across membership dues, event registration, course and training fees, corporate advertising and sponsorship (The Bulletin, email blasts, event exhibits), branded merchandise, and donations to the Education and Research Fund. Distribution combines direct institutional sales, self-serve online education, an e-commerce store, and a Career Center job board. The association is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by CEO John Taylor, with eight regional directors and a Central Office staff supporting membership, fundraising (Justin Rudisille), and finance (Dave Teske).
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES
- Legal name
- Association of College Unions International
- Website
- https://acui.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1914
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ACUI (Association of College Unions International) is a 110-year-old non-profit professional association serving college union and student activities professionals at higher education institutions across eight global regions through tiered institutional membership, online education, certification, conferences, and corporate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Professional Association Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (813920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Business Associations (813910)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE), Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)
Keywords
Where THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bloomington Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional Membership Dues: Annual dues calculated based on full-time equivalent enrollment as reported on U.S. Department of Education IPEDS data. Three tiers available: Premium Tier ($1,225-$4,945 depending on enrollment), Full Tier ($699-$3,720), and Digital Tier ($345-$2,142). Premium Tier includes over $2,500 in complimentary education and resources.
- Associate/Corporate Membership: Companies can join as associate members for $999 annually, enabling their team to connect with over 5,000 professionals and students. Includes listing in Buyer's Guide, discounts on events, and access to member directory.
- Event Registration Fees: Revenue from Annual Conference, Regional Conferences, Seminars, Institutes, and workshops. Pricing varies by event type with member and non-member rates.
- Course and Training Fees: Full courses cost $199 for members and $259 for non-members. Mini-courses cost $120. Training Hub programs priced at $10 per program, $40 for five-program bundle, or $150 for full library. Content packages available for $250.
- Corporate Advertising and Sponsorship: Corporate partners can advertise in The Bulletin magazine (starting at $800 per issue), newsletter (starting at $2,400 for 24 issues), email eblasts ($1,250 single), and sponsor/exhibit at events including Annual Conference and Regional Conferences.
- Store Sales: Sale of ACUI logo apparel, books (College Union Dynamic, College Union Idea, Core Competencies Handbook), and merchandise through the online store.
- Donations and Fundraising: Education and Research Fund accepts donations to support scholarships and professional development. Donor levels range from Friends ($100-$250) to Trustees Society ($75,001+). Annual Conference fundraising activities and Knot Club alumni donations support the Meg Sutton I-LEAD Scholarship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Tier Membership - Full access with $2,500+ in complimentary education |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Tier Membership - Complete access to benefits with complimentary professional development |
| Subscription | Annual | Digital Tier Membership - Budget-friendly access with limited benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate/Corporate Membership - For companies to connect with campus professionals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full Courses - Multi-week courses with synchronous and asynchronous learning |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mini-Courses - Self-paced learning with approximately 30 hours of training |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training Hub Programs - Microlearning for professional skills development |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Content Packages - Pre-packaged educational resources for campus training |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A non-profit professional membership association that delivers professional development, certification, networking, and resources for college union and student activities professionals at higher education institutions. Core offerings include tiered institutional memberships (Premium, Full, Digital), the Training Hub microlearning library, Full Courses, Mini-Courses, the CSAEd-CU certification credential, an Annual Conference, eight Regional Conferences, and a portfolio of specialized institutes and seminars covering leadership, facilities management, marketing, and student organization advising.
Product overview
ACUI (Association of College Unions International) offers a comprehensive professional development ecosystem consisting of multiple interconnected products and services. The core offerings include: a microlearning Training Hub with dozens of programs across analytical intelligence, business acumen, professional effectiveness, and relationship management domains; formal education through Full Courses (6-8 weeks, $199) and Mini-Courses (self-paced, $120); professional certification through the College Unions Student Affairs Certification (CSAEd-CU); and online education including webinars, roundtables, Thought Leadership events, and virtual workshops. The association organizes Regional Conferences across eight geographic regions and an Annual Conference. Specialized institutes include I-LEAD, Women's Leadership Institute, Student Organization Institute, Aspiring Directors Institute, Building Managers Institute, Collegiate Marketing Institute, Facilities Management Seminar, IPDS New Professionals Seminar, and Renovation and Construction Seminar. Publications include The Bulletin magazine and books such as College Union Dynamic and College Union Idea. Additional offerings include Content Packages for campus training ($250), the ACUI Career Center job board, and tiered institutional memberships ranging from $345 to $4,945 annually based on enrollment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CSAEd (Certified Student Affairs Educator): A voluntary credential program for student affairs educators, developed collaboratively by student affairs associations, educators, and graduate faculty. Includes CSAEd-CU specialty certification for college unions.
- I-LEAD (Institute for Leadership Education and Development)
- IPDS (Institute for Professional Development Seminar)
Products and services
- Institutional Membership Tiers (Premium, Full, Digital) Annual institutional memberships that provide campus-wide access to ACUI's professional development, networking, certification, and resources. Premium Tier includes over $2,500 in complimentary education and resources, $825 educational credit voucher, and four campus passes; Full Tier includes $150 voucher and one pass; Digital Tier includes free webinars and virtual roundtables.
- Associate/Corporate Membership $999 annual membership for companies providing products and services to college unions and student activities operations, including Buyer's Guide listing, event discounts, and access to over 5,000 professionals and students.
- Full Courses Multi-week courses (6-8 weeks) with both synchronous and asynchronous learning, including virtual classroom sessions, discussion boards, and a certificate/badge upon completion. Priced at $199 for members and $259 for non-members.
- Mini-Courses Self-paced courses providing approximately 30 hours of training, with up to six months to complete. No classes or peer-to-peer interaction required; organized into learning paths for Assessment/Evaluation/Research, Event Management, and Social Justice competencies. Priced at $120 per course.
- Training Hub Members-only microlearning library providing self-paced professional development programs on topics including analytical intelligence, business acumen, professional effectiveness, and relationship management. Programs range from 15 to 90 minutes; priced at $10 per program, $40 for five-program bundle, $150 for full library.
- CSAEd-CU Certification (College Unions Student Affairs Certification) Voluntary professional credential demonstrating ongoing learning, competencies, and knowledge in student affairs work and college unions specifically. Designed for mid-level and above professionals in student affairs.
- The Bulletin Magazine Print and digital magazine with circulation exceeding 3,000 featuring best practices and education regarding college union and student activities. Published with special editions including The Year in Review and Renovation & Construction edition.
- Annual Conference Flagship annual conference bringing together hundreds of professionals in college unions and student activities for education, networking, and professional development. 2027 conference scheduled for Baltimore, February 28-March 4.
- Regional Conferences Annual gatherings hosted by each of the eight ACUI regions for education and networking within geographical areas, held at various campuses throughout North America and internationally.
- I-LEAD (Institute for Leadership Education and Development) Transformational experience for inclusive leadership and community building, providing space for college students to achieve learning outcomes informed by student development and leadership theories.
- Women's Leadership Institute Special program for women seeking to further their leadership skills in higher education administration, coproduced with other higher education associations.
- Student Organization Institute Institute for student organization advisors offering networking, best practices, risk management strategies, advisor development, and student leadership development resources.
- Aspiring Directors Institute Seminar for mid-level professionals aspiring to higher positions in student affairs, focusing on career advancement through social justice and equity lens.
- IPDS: New Professionals Seminar Four-day immersive program for new college union and student activities professionals focused on skill building and networking.
- Building Managers Institute Program bringing together professionals and students in facilities management to develop skills and share best practices for building manager training.
- Facilities Management Seminar Foundational program for aspiring union directors and senior professionals new to facilities, offering back-of-house tours and immersive case studies.
- Renovation and Construction Seminar Program designed to equip professionals with tools and information needed to successfully renovate or build student union facilities.
- Collegiate Marketing Institute Collaborative event with NIRSA for campus recreation, college union, and student activities professionals to share marketing best practices and trends.
- Content Packages Pre-packaged educational resources for campus staff and student training, including videos, facilitation guides, handouts, and knowledge checks. Available at $250 per package across topics including College Union and Leadership Foundations and Customer Service and Interpersonal Skills.
- College Union Dynamic, Second Edition (2026) Book presenting a comprehensive approach to designing effective college unions, second edition released in 2026.
- College Union Idea, Second Edition (2012) Book chronicling the philosophy and function of the college union, second edition published in 2012.
- Core Competencies Handbook (2020) Handbook outlining the competencies needed to be successful in the college union and student activities profession, published in 2020.
- ACUI Career Center Job board connecting employers with college union and student activities professionals. Provides database of opportunities nationwide; members receive preferential pricing for job postings.
- Webinars and Virtual Roundtables Free virtual learning opportunities for ACUI Premium and Full Tier campus members, including webinars, virtual roundtables, Thought Leadership events featuring outside experts, Ask the Expert interactive sessions, and virtual workshops.
Companies that use THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered champion, leader, community builder and core.
- Chartwells Higher EducationchampionChampion-level Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing dining and food service solutions to higher education. Recognized for significant engagement as part of ACUI's new Corporate Partnership Advantage Program offering exclusive invitations to in-person programs, discounts, brand recognition opportunities, and acknowledgement at Annual Conference.
- RecRechampionChampion-level Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing recreational equipment and solutions. Recognized as industry-leading partner for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program with exclusive event invitations, discounts, and brand recognition.
- AE WorksleaderLeader-tier Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing architecture and design services. Recognized for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program.
- ikon5 architectsleaderLeader-tier Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing architectural services. Recognized for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program.
- Perkins & WillleaderLeader-tier Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing comprehensive architecture and design services. Recognized for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program.
- MHTN ArchitectsleaderLeader-tier Corporate Partnership Advantage member providing architectural services. Recognized for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program.
- Mazevocommunity builderCommunity Builder-tier Corporate Partnership Advantage member. Recognized for engagement in ACUI's Corporate Partnership Advantage Program.
- NIRSAcoreCollaborative partnership with NIRSA (Association of College Recreation) to produce the Collegiate Marketing Institute. Both higher education associations share common goal of building healthy campus communities, making the event valuable for campus recreation, college union, and student activities professionals.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers): AACRAO is a comparable higher education membership association serving registrars and admissions officers with a long-established institutional tiered dues model and annual conference.
- Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS): CAS develops standards and frameworks for higher education student affairs programs, directly adjacent to ACUI's core competencies handbook and CSAEd credential in setting professional practice for college unions and student activities.
- NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education: NASPA is the primary professional association for student affairs administrators in higher education, competing for the same institutional membership budgets and individual members as ACUI across the broader student affairs profession.
- ACUHO-I (Association of College and University Housing Officers - International): ACUHO-I serves housing and residence life professionals in higher education using a near-identical tiered institutional membership, annual conference, and regional structure model, making it one of the closest structural comparables to ACUI.
- APPA: Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers: APPA serves higher education facilities officers and shares ACUI's focus on building/operations professionals with conference, credential, and institutional membership offerings aimed at the same campus buyer.
- NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation: NIRSA is the leading association for collegiate recreation professionals and directly collaborates with ACUI on the Collegiate Marketing Institute, serving overlapping higher education institutional buyers with a similar membership + conference + certification model.
- Society for College and University Planning (SCUP): SCUP serves campus planners and institutional effectiveness professionals with annual conferences, regional events, and credentials — overlapping with ACUI's facilities, renovation, and planning audiences.
- CUPA-HR (College and University Professional Association for Human Resources): CUPA-HR provides membership, conferences, and resources to higher education HR professionals with a tiered institutional model comparable to ACUI's, competing for the same institutional line items on campus.
- ACPA - College Personnel Association: ACPA focuses on college student personnel and student development professionals and is closely aligned with ACUI's CSAEd credentialing initiative, making it a direct peer in the student affairs credentialing space.
Broad incumbents
- EDUCAUSE: EDUCAUSE is a much larger, broader higher education association focused on IT and digital transformation; while not directly competing, it competes for institutional membership mindshare and is an ecosystem-level incumbent in higher ed associations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES social profiles
Digital presenceTHE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES
What does THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES do?
A non-profit professional membership association that delivers professional development, certification, networking, and resources for college union and student activities professionals at higher education institutions. Core offerings include tiered institutional memberships (Premium, Full, Digital), the Training Hub microlearning library, Full Courses, Mini-Courses, the CSAEd-CU certification credential, an Annual Conference, eight Regional Conferences, and a portfolio of specialized institutes and seminars covering leadership, facilities management, marketing, and student organization advising.
Is THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES a public or private company?
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES founded?
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES was founded in 1914. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES based?
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES is headquartered in Bloomington Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Institutional Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are associate/Corporate Membership, event Registration Fees, course and Training Fees, corporate Advertising and Sponsorship, store Sales and donations and Fundraising.
Who are THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers), Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, ACUHO-I (Association of College and University Housing Officers - International), APPA: Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), CUPA-HR (College and University Professional Association for Human Resources) and ACPA - College Personnel Association. EDUCAUSE is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES.
What industry is THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES in?
THE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGERS IN CANADIAN COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT CENTRES's product category is Higher Education Professional Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of THAHACAE, Academic & Education Conference Organizers. Its NAICS code is 813920 and its SIC code is 8600.