Mark your calendars! NIRSA will be offering the NIRSA School of Collegiate Recreation in 2019 and the event will take place in Portland, Oregon from May 19–23.
NIRSA offers the School experience for those who want to develop their professional competencies and relationships and grow their careers in the field of collegiate recreation in an intimate and intensive learning environment. Registration for this event is limited to 48 attendees. This event is highly popular, and registration openings are awarded via a lottery process.
NIRSA will accept lottery applications October 15 through November 16. When the application process closes, applications will be chosen at random. Applicants chosen will be offered a seat at the 2019 School. More information about the lottery application process, lodging, and registration costs will be made available in October.
What 2018 NIRSA School attendees are saying
“The memories I have and the friendships that were gained in such a short time is unbelievable. I was told that this would be one of the most impactful weeks in my campus rec career and it did not disappoint,” says Kyle Osburn, Intramural Sports Program Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. “Thank you to the Faculty who made this week possible and allowed me to expand my knowledge and begin to find my place in this field that I love.”
“For young professionals, this is a great week of learning, networking, and reinforcing ideas with like-minded professionals—especially if you did not go to school with a background in recreation,” explains Lindsay Wigderson, Aquatics Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “You get to work with knowledgeable faculty who support and acknowledge the work you do. I highly recommend it!”
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend the School of Collegiate Recreation. I went hoping to gain a few new ideas for my program. In fact, I learned so much more than that. My mindset was shifted, and I gained some very helpful perspectives,” says Kathryn Thies, Program Coordinator, Aquatics and Facilities at Loyola University Chicago. “I learned a lot about thinking like a Director and ways to better serve my school. I left feeling refreshed and excited to dive back into my work.”
“I had the opportunity to attend the 2018 NIRSA School of Collegiate Recreation and was blown away by the experience. I learned an incredible amount in a short time and met some truly amazing peers in our field. I highly recommend it for all professionals in our field,” says Scott Sharp, Coordinator of Informal Recreation at the University of Alabama.
NIRSA 2019 is for newer professionals
The target audience for NIRSA School events each year varies. The 2019 NIRSA School will be designed for newer professionals in the field, usually those who are within the first five years of their careers.
New professionals may be found supervising student staff and serving as club organization advisors. They may be found supervising professional staff, but their experience in this role may be limited in scope in comparison to more experienced professionals. New professionals are usually responsible for coordinating the direct delivery of programs and services. For example, they may be found working in specific functional areas (e.g. club sports, aquatics, intramurals, facilities, marketing, etc). If this description sounds like you, the 2019 NIRSA School may be right for you!
Stay tuned to the NIRSA news, as more information will become available this fall.
- For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Professional Development Kristen Gleason.
Kristen Gleason is currently the Director of Professional Development at NIRSA
