National Residence Hall Honorary
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is the premiere honorary supported by the leading international organization advocating for the interests and welfare of residence hall students, while also providing opportunities for their personal growth and development. NRHH strives to provide recognition for individuals who have contributed to the advancement of college and university housing. It ensures the advancement of member chapters through resource sharing, programming, and leadership development opportunities to contribute and support the vision of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, Incorporated.
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NRHH is a branch of NACURH, Inc. All member institutions of NACURH are eligible to host an NRHH Chapter on their campus. NRHH offers many services in conjunctions with NACURH and it affiliates. The honorary leadership is made up of a NACURH NRHH Board of Directors (NNBD) with representation from each regional affiliate. As NACURH is NRHH's parent organization, NRHH is intertwined with the NACURH corporate structure. As such, some NRHH matters are presented before the combined leadership of NACURH or the NACURH Board of Directors (NBD). The NACURH Associate for NRHH (NAN), a member of the NACURH Executive Team, serves as the director of NRHH and represents NRHH in all NACURH matters. The NAN oversees the NNBD, the implementation of a NACURH-wide OTM program, among other things. Each of NACURH's eight regional affiliates have a leadership structure that includes an Associate Director for NRHH (ADNRHH). Each ADNRHH is a voting member of the NNB and leads NRHH both within their respective region and as part of the NNBD. Additionally, the NACURH Corporate Office has a representative that sits on the NNBD to provide perspective.
Our History
In 1964, the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), Inc. found
itself with financial difficulties. Jim Tschechtelin, NACURH Chair, began investigating possibilities
for potential revenue sources and grants. Grants were found, but there were two requirements: a
central NACURH office had to be established, and the member schools needed more services
rendered. Thus, April 25, 1964 at the University of Denver during the annual NACURH Conference
the National Residence Hall Honorary was created as an answer to the second requirement.
During the preliminary organization, the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) focused on the
incorporation of old into new. Campuses with existing honorary organizations were contacted and
coordinated into the NRHH structure. The preservation of chapter identity was primary, as it was
incorporated into the NRHH structure, and as each campus is aware of its own individual needs.
The primary focus of each chapter became the recognition of the residence hall leaders on its
campus. This helped sustain a consistent membership in on-campus organizations, as well as, on
the regional and national levels within NACURH.
The years between 1977 and 1987 were years of growth for the NRHH. Pins and certificates were produced to recognize the members of the honorary, the tradition of regional and national receptions during conferences began and formal recruitment and affiliation packets were produced. Regional Recruiter (now called Associate Directors) positions on regional boards were also established. Many awards were created including Program, National Communications Coordinator, Advisor, Student, and Resident Assistant Of The Month Awards as well as the NRHH Outstanding Chapter of the Year.
Today, well over 100 chapters are affiliated with the honorary through the NACURH Information Center. NRHH has become more intertwined into the NACURH Corporate Structure by the addition of the NACURH Associate for NRHH (NAN) to the NACURH Executive Team and its continuance to be the organizations major source of recognition. Activities of the chapters vary from campus to campus. Some simply induct new members at an annual recognition banquet every year, thus, and others are extremely active on their campuses and in their communities, coordinating leadership retreats, conferences, socials, hall or campus wide programs, fund raisers, and a whole host of other events. Still others have found a middle ground which suits their campus. Membership selection is conducted by each individual chapter. The chapter members are student leaders on campus and are those who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time and energy in order to make the residence halls more than a “dorm.”
