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NIRSA Research & Assessment

The NIRSA Research Grant Program  

NIRSA Research & Assessment Research Grant Program

Research grants support original, scholarly research that advance the knowledge base and practices within the field of collegiate recreation. Grant award amounts will be based on the needs of individual projects.

NIRSA Foundation provides support for Research & Assessment of Campus Recreation

The NIRSA Foundation proudly supports the NIRSA Research Grant Program.

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Contact NIRSA Research

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The NIRSA 2018 Research Grant Application Guidelines are now available!
Please use the available rubric to evaluate your proposal before submission. If you have any questions, please contact Ruben Guzman, NIRSA Research Coordinator.

2018 NIRSA Research Grant Rubric
2018 NIRSA Research Grant RFP

Eligibility & Procedures

Grant Eligibility

All funded research projects must be conducted either at or for NIRSA member institutions. Applications from students must be supported by faculty or staff sponsors who have agreed to oversee the proposed research. Applicants do not need to be NIRSA members. Collaborative, multi-institutional projects and those involving historically underrepresented groups will be given special consideration. Proposals should focus on the priorities identified in the NIRSA Research Agenda.

Application Procedures

Please refer to the Research Grant Application Guidelines prior to preparing a proposal. To apply for one of these prestigious grants, or for further information about the NIRSA Research Grant Program, please contact nirsa.research@nirsa.org.

Recipients

2018

Dr. Austin AndersonUniversity of Southern Indiana
Project: “Project: Impact of LGBTQ Diversity Training on Attitudes and Competencies of Collegiate Recreation Employees”
Funded by:
Dianna ClaussRider University
Project: “The impact of a comprehensive student health and wellbeing program on the retention rate of residential first year students.”
Funded by:
Dr. Laura MorrisUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington
Project: “Multi-institutional assessment of the relationship between campus recreation participation and psychological wellbeing.”
Funded by:
Erin PatchettUniversity of Northern Colorado
Project: “Campus recreation professionals’ engagement with social justice.”
Funded by:

2017

Dr. Deborah ShapiroGeorgia State University
Project: “A Multi‐Institutional Comparison of Barriers and Facilitators of Campus Adapted and Inclusive Intramural Sports Programming for College Students with and without Disabilities”
Funded by:
Yvette KellUniversity of Missouri – St. Louis
Project: “An Exploration of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership in Collegiate Recreation Student Employees and their own perceptions of their Emotional Intelligence and Emotionally Intelligent Leadership”
Funded by:
Dr. Benjamin P. Correia-HarkerInterfaith Youth Core
Project: “Campus Recreation and Leadership Development: Pathways for Student and Community Transformation.”
Funded by:

2016

$10,000 – Dr. Leann Lower, Ball State University

$2,000 – Dr. Amy Rundio, East Carolina University

Dr. Leann LowerBall State University
Project: “The Collegiate Sport Club Model: Organization Structure, Management, and Outcomes”
Funded by:
Dr. Anthony PattersonNorth Carolina Central University
Project: “The Value of Outdoor Recreation Programs for Students at an Historically Black University:
An Exploration of Outdoor Recreation Experiences and Barriers to Participation.”
Funded by:
Dr. Amy RundioEast Carolina University
Project: “Collegiate Sport Club Participation: Constraints, Motivations, and Student Outcomes”
Funded by:
Dr. James M. PivarnikMichigan State University
Project: “The Role of Recreational Sports in Student Academic Success and Overall Wellbeing.”
Funded by:

2015

Dr. Keith HowardNorth Carolina State University
Project: “Race, Identity, and Belonging: Examining College Students’ Preferences for Sport and Active Recreation.”

2014

Dr. James PivarnikMichigan State University
Project: “Interrelationships Among College Student Physical Activity, Club and Intramural Sports Participation, and Academic Performance.”
Funded by:
Dr. Jacob TingleTrinity University
Project: “Exploring NIRSA Championship Series Professional Development Opportunities: Understanding Their Perceived Value to the Association.”
Funded by:

2013

Dr. Scott ForresterBrock University
Project: “Benefits of Campus Recreational Sports Participation: NASPA-NIRSA Consortium.”
Recipient of the President’s Award for the Article of Distinction
Funded by:
Dr. John DuganLoyola University Chicago
Project: “Recreation Sports and Leadership: Examining Influences to Enhance Educational Impact.”
Funded by:
Dr. Jacqueline McDowellUniversity of Illinois at Urbana
Project: “Toward the Development of National Intramural and Club Sport Gender Equity Guidelines.”
Recipient of the President’s Award for the Article of Distinction

CONTENT HIDDEN

Application Dates for a 2016 NIRSA Research Grant

The 2016 grant application period has closed.
Please check back soon for the 2017 application cycle.
June 1 – August 15, 2016Grant applications accepted
October 1, 2016Grantees notified of award status
October 20182016 Research Grant Program projects completed
Application Guidelines

Research Requirements & Selection Criteria

Grants will be awarded for research which will:

  • Focus on issue(s) related to campus recreation
  • Clearly articulate a strong research design. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies will be considered. Methodology must be appropriate for the research question(s).
  • Be completed by October 2018. Results must be ready for presentation at the 2019 NIRSA Annual Conference and be submitted for consideration for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, such as NIRSA’s Recreational Sports Journal (RSJ).
  • Explore unique issues, subjects, analysis, participants and/or sample. Research must be original work of the investigators and may not have been reported elsewhere.
  • Have potential to have a broad impact on campus recreation initiatives.