2025 NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals

Join us December 9-11, 2025 in Dallas, TX!

NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals logo white

What is the NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals?

This year’s three-day NIRSA School is designed to amplify the capabilities of newer campus recreation professionals. Join a select group of peers for a deep-dive program taught by senior administrators — while cultivating a lifelong camaraderie with fellow attendees.

As an Early Career level professional, you are uniquely positioned to contribute to organizational culture, influence change, and develop critical decision-making skills. The NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals hones the skill set and mindset to influence positive growth on your organization and team.

Lottery

Apply to Enter the Lottery

Applications will be accepted May 1 through June 14, 2024.

Registration is lottery based and on a limited capacity. The lottery will open in May 2025.  We will have 66 registration slots available for the NIRSA School this year. More details coming soon.

Lottery

Applications closed on June 14, 2024.

Registration is lottery based and on a limited capacity. There are 66 registration slots available for the NIRSA School this year.

The lottery draw will be announced on June 21. All applicants will receive notification of their status via email. If accepted, you must verbally confirm by July 8, and pay registration by July 19.

Registration Costs

Membership Type Cost
Premier member (individual & institutional member) $999 
Member (individual member from a non-member institution) $1,099 
Non-Members (non-member from a non-member institution) $1,499

Two lunches and one dinner are included

Scholarships

The NIRSA Foundation is offering two full scholarships!

NIRSA Professional Membership is required in order to be eligible for a scholarship. Professional members must also be an early career professional within your first 1-5 years.

Scholarships

Scholarship applications are now closed. Scholarship applicants will be notified of their status on June 26, 2024.

The NIRSA Foundation is offering two full scholarships!

NIRSA Professional Membership is required in order to be eligible for a scholarship. Professional members must also be an early career professional within your first 1-5 years.

Topic Areas and Learning Outcomes

Building healthy, productive teams is critical for success. That is why this year’s School will focus on themes related to organizational culture, people management, and topics related to value-based decision making and resource management.

By attending this event, you will be able to:

  1. Apply strategies to engage and empower staff members
  2. Leverage your personal change style to contribute to positive change in your department and on campus
  3. Describe management concepts and apply them in their workplace
  4. Apply principles of ethical decision making into their daily professional practice
  5. Identify factors affecting department and large-scale campus projects and initiatives

Who attends the NIRSA School for Early Career Professionals?

There are no prerequisites for this event. The typical attendee usually has 1 to 5 years of professional experience in the field.

As an attendee, you can expect to…

… learn from experienced faculty with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
… establish strong and enduring professional relationships with attendees and faculty.
… explore key competencies and career development opportunities.

Common reading: “Radical Candor”

We’ll focus on Radical Candor by Kim Scott as the foundation of this week-long experience to explore the following questions:

  • How can I motivate and inspire my staff?
  • How can I manage down, across, and up within my organization?
  • How can I contribute positively and productively to guide change within my organization?
  • How do organizations make big decisions and how can I be a part of it?

  • How can I motivate and inspire my staff?

  • How can I manage down, across, and up within my organization?

  • How can I contribute positively and productively to guide change within my organization?

  • How do organizations make big decisions and how can I be a part of it?

The NIRSA School Faculty: Learn from the Pros

The NIRSA School Faculty is ready to share decades of collective experience in managing campus recreation programs.

Each faculty member’s background and institutional affiliations offers a unique perspective on the profession’s challenges and trends.

Faculty members are appointed by the NIRSA Board of Directors. In order to offer a dynamic mix of perspectives and experiences to the faculty, two faculty members are selected annually to serve three-year terms.

Faculty Leadership Style

With a small cohort-based approach, this is a learning opportunity that provides an opportunity to dive deep into topics relevant to mid-level professionals.

Al Diaz
Al Diaz
Candice Douglas
Candice Douglas
Jenny Larson
Jenny Larson
Jessica Ward
Photo of Katie Burns
Katie Burns
Headshot of Ryan Bradshaw
Ryan Bradshaw

Schedule

Specific scheduling information will be provided closer to the event.

Date Agenda
Monday, December 8 Travel Day
Tuesday, December 9 Educational programming: ~8:00am–5:00pm
Wednesday, December 10 Educational programming: ~8:00am–5:00pm
Thursday, December 11 Educational programming: ~8:00am–6:00pm
Friday, December 12 Travel Home Day

To inform your travel plans, the event will begin with morning programming on Tuesday, and conclude in the evening on Thursday. Attendance through the entire event is expected. Please arrange your travel plans accordingly.

AC/Residence Inn Dallas Galleria

5460 James Temple Dr Dallas, TX 75240| website | map & directions

NIRSA event rate: $159/night

A reservation link will be distributed to attendees upon registering for the event. Rate includes breakfast buffet.

Reservations must be received on or before Monday, November 24 to receive the NIRSA rate.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Looking for more information?

For more information, contact NIRSA Director of Events, Sierra Smith.