By John P. Dugan

Since its launch in 2006, the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL) has worked to advance the understanding of how higher education can best contribute to the leadership development of college students.

This includes the measurement of a wide-array of educational outcomes associated with leadership as well as the educational experiences that influence them.

Computer Displaying Dugan's ReportThe Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership was conceived as a way to improve institutional practice by better aligning the theory-research-practice cycle.

This past spring, the NIRSA Foundation—with the support of generous donors—decided to fund an analysis of existing data from the MSL. The Association wanted to focus specifically on the leadership development of students who participate in intramural and club sports. The illuminating results of this new research can now be found in Leadership in Intramural Sports and Club Sports: Examining Influences to Enhance Educational Impact. This publication is written in accessible language designed for broad dissemination, academic publication, and campus spotlights. The themes that emerge will also be submitted for publication in an academic research article for the Recreational Sports Journal.

“Few other organizations or industry’s professionals are more prepared for or committed to advancing the leadership development of college students.”

The beauty of research lies in its potential to confirm what we already know works, and to motivate us to examine areas for improvement more closely. As you delve into this publication, you may find elements that correspond with what you know, and elements that challenge assumptions related to your work and/or inspire new thinking about how best to cultivate leadership development among NIRSA constituencies.

“My hope is that this report serves as a source of external validation for the hard work of NIRSA members, and highlights new pathways for evolving practice.”

After attending and presenting at NIRSA 2014, one thing was clear to me: there are few other organizations or industry’s professionals more prepared for or committed to advancing the leadership development of college students. I was taken by the stories I heard about struggles for acknowledgment on campus and for educational contributions, as well as the sophisticated and amazing approaches to leadership development already in place. My hope is that this report serves as a source of external validation for the hard work of NIRSA members, and highlights new pathways for evolving practice.

I hope you will consider participating in the next administration of the MSL, which will take place in 2015. The study collects data every three years, so after 2015 the next cycle will not be until 2018. Under NIRSA leadership, the MSL survey instrument has been augmented with further questions that will allow for an even greater understanding of NIRSA constituencies and their needs. Recruitment is well under way with over 80 schools in four countries already enrolled.

You can learn more at the MSL website and stay in touch with the MSL through Facebook or Twitter by following the hashtag #mslconnection.

John P. Dugan is an Associate Professor of Higher Education at Loyola University Chicago. He is the principle investigator of the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership.