HISTORY OF NRHH
In 1964, the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), Inc. found itself with financial difficulties and 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 service rendered. Thus, April 25, 1964 at the University of Denver during the annual NACURH Conference the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) was created as an answer to the second requirement.
During the preliminary years of the organization, 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 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 Director) positions on regional boards were also established. Many OTM awards were created including Program, National Communications Coordinator, Advisor, Student, and Resident Assistant as well as the NRHH Outstanding Chapter of the Year.
Today, well over 200 chapters are affiliated with the honorary through the NACURH Information Center. NRHH has become more intertwined into the NACURH Corporate Structure with the addition of the National Associate for the NRHH and Special Initiatives (NAN) to the National Executive. Activities of the chapters vary from campus to campus. Some simply induct new members at an annual recognition banquet every year as an honorary chapter. 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.
Miami University’s chapter of NRHH was founded in 1987 by a select group of residence hall leaders. The chapter worked to grow, develop and find its place on-campus. In the spring of 1995, the Miami Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary was awarded Chapter of the Year Runner-Up for the CAACURH region and in the spring of 1996, the Chapter was renamed to the Dr. Richard L. Nault Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary after a prominent advocate for student engagement on Miami’s campus. To learn more about Miami’s Chapter check out What is NRHH?