What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?
My top priority tomorrow is participating in a week-long conference of university colleges. It’s something we do every year, gathering colleagues from across the country to talk about the things that matter most in our work.
This year, the number one item on the agenda is both urgent and long overdue: implementing the new National Accord on gender-based violence, which commences in January 2026. The Accord is more than a policy shift; it’s a call to action for every college and university community.
We know the statistics. We know the stories. And we know the responsibility we bear. Our students don’t just come to us for a place to stay while they study—they come to us for an experience that will shape their lives. That experience should be one of safety, respect, and growth.
Our goal is simple but profound: that our colleges will be the safest places they can possibly be, and that the young adults who live within them will leave not only with degrees but with maturity—taking responsibility for the way they treat others.
Conferences are often a mix of policy talk, planning sessions, and corridor conversations. But this one carries extra weight. Tomorrow, and all through the week ahead, my priority is to listen carefully, contribute honestly, and work with others so that the National Accord isn’t just implemented—it’s lived.
If we can get this right, we’ll be shaping a future where respect is not negotiable, and where every student knows that their college is not only a place to learn, but a place to belong, safely.
The Afterword 
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