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Collegiate Esports Virtual Institute

October 8-9, 2025
Online

NIRSA Collegiate Esports Institute Logo

About the Collegiate Esports Virtual Institute

Esports and gaming are some of the fastest-growing programs on campuses! NIRSA’s Collegiate Esports Virtual Institute is a gathering for Campus Rec Professionals to learn from leaders who have experience building programs, as well as how to take your program to the next level. 

This institute occurs every other year. Our previous Esports Virtual Institute occurred over a jampacked 2-days in 2023. We’ll be back with even more content October 8-9, 2025!

Proposals

Presentation proposals open on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Please submit your proposal no later than Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Presentation proposals should align with NIRSA’s eight core competencies and should cover topics related to esports and gaming.

NIRSA professional and student members who present will receive $100 off of their registration! You don’t want to miss out on this fantastic chance to share your knowledge! Submit a presentation proposal by the Friday, May 12 deadline for all submissions!

Schedule

Please check back soon for the full conference schedule!

Pre-Conference Activities

The deadline to register for all preconference activities in Monday, May 8! Registration is first-come-first-served.

Esports Facility Tour at Champlain College

Tuesday, July 11 from 2:00pm-3:30pm
Cost: $25 per person*

Take advantage of this opportunity to visit one of the first higher education institutions in Vermont to offer esports at a varsity level. This institution was the first in Vermont to offer a fully dedicated facility to esports. Not only is this facility used for varsity and club esports, but it’s also home to work study and intern positions for broadcasting, promotion, content creation, and more!

*Please note space is extremely limited! Maximum capacity is 20, minimum participation is 10. If the activity fails to reach the minimum, those who sign up will receive a refund.

Waterfront Paddle Sports

Tuesday, July 11 from 2:00pm-3:30pm
Cost: $45 per person*

Enjoy the Vermont summer while paddling either a kayak or paddleboard on the beautiful and picturesque Lake Champlain!

*Please note space is extremely limited! Maximum capacity is 20, minimum participation is 10. If the activity fails to reach the minimum, those who sign up will receive a refund.

Pickleball at the University of Vermont

Tuesday, July 11 from 4:00pm-6:00pm
Cost: Free*

Come and play one of the hottest and fastest growing sports in the country! Whether you are a seasoned pickleball player or a beginner, this will be a fun time. There will be a rules briefing before play as well as a rules posterboard to reference.

*Please note, due to limited space, maximum capacity is 24.

Schedule subject to change

Time Agenda
12:00pm-12:50pm Eastern/9:00am-9:50am Pacific Educational Session
1:10pm-2:00pm Eastern/10:10am-11:00am Pacific Educational Session
2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern/11:00am-12:00pm Pacific Break
3:00pm-3:50pm Eastern/12:00pm-12:50pm Pacific Educational Session
4:10pm-5:00pm Eastern/1:10pm-2:00pm Pacific Educational Session
Time Agenda
12:00pm-12:50pm Eastern/9:00am-9:50am Pacific Educational Session
1:10pm-2:00pm Eastern/10:10am-11:00am Pacific Educational Session
2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern/11:00am-12:00pm Pacific Break
3:00pm-3:50pm Eastern/12:00pm-12:50pm Pacific Educational Session
4:10pm-5:00pm Eastern/1:10pm-2:00pm Pacific Educational Session

Registration

Registration Opens: Monday, April 24

Price on or before September 30, 2025 Late Price after September 30, 2025
Registration will close Midnight Eastern/9pm Pacific on October 6, 2025
Premier Member* $159 $189
Individual Member $209 $249
Nonmember $299 $359
Institutional Bundle (up to 5 individuals) $479 N/A

*Individual members who are on staff of an institutional member school are considered Premier Members

The term “member” refers to those with a current NIRSA membership both at the time of registration and throughout the conference. If you are unsure about your individual membership status or your institution’s membership status, please send an email to membership@nirsa.org.

Recordings will be included with paid registration for approximately 2 months after the event ends.

Register on or before Monday, July 17, 2023 for best pricing

Recordings will be included with paid registration for approximately 2 months after the event ends.

Conference Hotel

More information Coming Soon!

The Courtyard Burlington Harbor Hotel & the University of Vermont Student Housing

12000 Collegiate Way • Orlando, Florida 32817 • 407-277-7676 • Website • Map & Directions

Rates & Reservations

ERSL Room Rate: $139 + tax per night

Attendees can make hotel reservations by calling 407-207-4729 and requesting the NIRSA ERSL: Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference group rate. Reservations need to be made no later than January 18, 2023, to confirm the discounted group rate.

NIRSA encourages all Conference attendees to reserve their hotel accommodations within the NIRSA room block. NIRSA relies on strong room block usage to secure ample meeting space, increase negotiation leverage for future institutes, and offset event expenses.

Roommates

Looking for a roommate? The best way to match with a roommate is to post that you are looking for one in the 2023 Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference Connect Community; once registered you’ll be added to the community.

Airport

The best airports to fly into are the Orlando International Airport (MCO) or Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) which is a bit smaller than MCO. It is about 30 minutes from MCO to the host hotel and university. It’s about 25 minutes from SFB to the host hotel and university.

Shuttles

Information coming soon!

Apply for a Scholarship to Attend the ERSL Conference

The NIRSA Foundation Founders Endowment was established in honor of the twenty African American Founders of NIRSA. The Founders Endowment supports registration scholarships to attend NIRSA educational events and one registration award to a professional and student to attend ERSL. This year the NIRSA Foundation Founders Endowment is awarding two registration scholarships (one student & one professional) to attend the 2023 ERSL Conference.

The application deadline is January 11, 2023. Preference will be given to applicants currently attending or working at an HBCU, but the winner will be selected at random through a name picker program. Applicants will be notified via email of their selection status by January 18, 2023. If you’ve previously registered for the event and win the scholarship we will work with you on registration reimbursement.

NIRSA Foundation

Special thanks to the
2023 Esports Virtual Institute Committee

  • Jarrode Davis, Co-Chair, The Ohio State University
  • Angie Petrie, Co-Chair, Syracuse University
  • Winston Adams, Stanford University
  • Amanda Bray, Utah State University
  • Stephanie Calhoun, University of Georgia
  • Tom Dougherty, University of Vermont
  • Heather Marshall, University of Central Florida

Continuing Education (CE) Credits

Select educational sessions at the Institute will offer CE credits towards the new Student Affairs Educator Certification.

Contact

For more information, please contact NIRSA Digital Learning Manager, Lee Sherlock.