Course Description 

Wellbeing is all the buzz in higher education right now and it seems everyone is striving to be part of it. But what does wellbeing actually mean? How does it show up in the work of campus recreation? How does recreation’s work impact campus wellbeing? Whether you’re a director or a coordinator, whether you’ve been in the field for decades or are just starting your recreation career, whether your department has long been a part of campus wellbeing efforts or you’re just starting out, there is so much to learn in this dynamic and ever-evolving area.   

Recreation for Wellbeing guides participants through understanding the foundations of wellbeing, why wellbeing is critical to and inherent in all areas of campus recreation, and how to understand the broader landscape of wellbeing on your campus.   

As a result of participating in the Recreation for Wellbeing course, participants will raise their own literacy around essential, foundational concepts thereby being better prepared to engage meaningfully in the work of wellbeing. They’ll understand how to think systemically and substantively about their work in recreation and how that work connects to the larger campus wellbeing journey. Join us for study, critical examination, and growth; we’re always stronger when we move forward together. 

Course Format 

This iteration of the Recreation for Wellbeing is a fully online, asynchronous experience so participants can engage with the material as their schedule allows and move through it at their own pace.  

The course is anchored by two, approximately 75-minute on-demand modules. Attendees are provided resources, including suggested readings, pre- and post-module questions, and worksheets for deeper, personalized engagement with the material. Furthermore, attendees will have access to bonus video content to help further their learning amidst the wider context of this work.  

A Connect community will also be accessible to attendees so that they can opt to engage in dialogue with peers, ask questions, and share real-world experiences as they move through this course.  

The course will launch with both modules becoming available on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.

Course Modules 

Module 1: Foundations of Wellbeing & Systems Thinking 

By completing this module, learners will be able to:   

• Articulate the concept of wellbeing and understand its distinction from wellness  

• Explain the components of the inter-association definition of wellbeing  

• Articulate what it means to take a systems and settings approach to your work  

Module 2:  Applying Systems Thinking to Impact Wellbeing  

By completing this module, learners will be able to:   

• Explain at least one way that wellbeing is supported through recreation 

• Identify levers of systemic change for wellbeing  

• Apply the principles of systems thinking into your daily work – no matter your role - to impact wellbeing 

For Institutional Bundle Registrants: The base Institutional Bundle rate is $229.00. Included with the Bundle are 5 free registrations. For each additional after 5, there is a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing. After the Bundle is purchased, you will be emailed 2 promo codes to be used to register your other attendees. The email will include instructions on entering and applying the codes at checkout. The first promo code has 5 uses and will apply a 100% off discount. The second promo code is uncapped and will apply a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing for anyone you wish to register beyond the base Institutional Bundle (a sixth participant or more). 

Continuing Education Credits 

Participants who complete the course will be eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits in either the Core Student Affairs Educator Certification (CSAEd™) or Certified Student Affairs Educator-Campus Recreation (CSAEd-CR™).  

NIRSA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd™). Programs that qualify for CE credit in this program are clearly identified. NIRSA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program. 

The two course modules qualify for the amount and types of CE credit listed below: 

• Module 1 = 1.5 Core credits in the Foundations of the Profession domain 

• Module 2 = 1.5 Campus Recreation Specialty Credits in the Leadership domain 

How to get CE credits for attending this course:

1. Complete the online modules (which will become available on February 12, 2025)
2. Upon completion, submit a program evaluation for each module at this link
3. Within two weeks of completing the survey, you should receive a certificate of completion via email

NIRSA Core Competencies 

Philosophy & Theory; Programming 

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the NIRSA Foundation for their continued support of NIRSA's wellbeing work.

How to get CE credits for attending this course:

1. Complete the online modules (which will become available on February 12, 2025)
2. Upon completion, submit a program evaluation for each module at this link
3. Within two weeks of completing the survey, you should receive a certificate of completion via email

NIRSA Board President Erin Patchett and NIRSA Executive Director Pam Watts will outline NIRSA’s goals for 2025, and how NIRSA is responding to member feedback. This interactive session will include time for member questions and ideas. This is a great opportunity to learn more about NIRSA’s strategies to support members and advance the field. This session is for members only.

Calling all go-getters and game-changers!  Learn about volunteering with NIRSA, the NIRSA Foundation, and the NIRSA Championship Series! Join us to explore opportunities to shape the 2025-2026 leadership year. Learn about the time commitments, workload, and—most importantly—the rewarding experiences that come with being part of these dynamic teams. Your next adventure in leadership starts here—don’t miss it!

Through this webinar, Ohio University will discuss their focus on developing a purpose-driven team, explore interdisciplinary and innovative strategies supporting wellbeing, and discuss successes and lessons learned through the lens of the presenters. Attendees will also learn how the Inter-association Definition of Well-Being can be used as a foundation and connection point for this work. 

Learning Objectives:  

• Understand how purpose-driven approaches can impact wellbeing efforts 

• Gain insights toward developing collaborative initiatives beyond traditional recreation partnerships   

• Learn the barriers and successes to implementing wellbeing initiatives 

**If purchasing the Institutional Bundle Registration: Included with the Bundle are 5 free individual registrations. For each additional after 5, there is a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing. After the Bundle is purchased, you will be emailed 2 promo codes to be used to register your other attendees for the individual registration. The Bundle purchaser will have access to the webinar. Other participants must register to gain access to the webinar.

Continuing Education Credits

Participants who attend this webinar will be eligible to receive one Continuing Education (CE) credit in either the Core Student Affairs Educator Certification (CSAEd™) or the Certified Student Affairs Educator-Campus Recreation (CSAEd-CR™) certification. NIRSA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.

This webinar is eligible for one credit in the domain encompassing Foundations of the Profession. This credit can be applied to the Core certification, or to the Campus Rec Specialty certification. Attendees of this webinar will need to submit a post-webinar evaluation and indicate their preference for credit type. They will then be awarded a certificate of completion.

If you wish to redeem CE credits for this webinar applicable to the CSAEd certification, revisit this page upon the webinar's completion and submit the linked evaluation form within 7 days. You will receive a PDF copy of your certificate of completion within 10 days of the survey closing, which you will then submit to your Prolydian account. Read more about submitting a certificate for CE's here. 

NIRSA and the Certification Consortium invite you to an exclusive member-only webinar where we will explore the value of Student Affairs Educator Certification. Join us as we provide a detailed update on the program’s progress over its first 1.5 years as well as findings from the recent Certified Student Affairs Educator (CSAEd) Census, showcasing its impact, benefits realized by CSAEd student affairs professionals, and areas for improvement. This webinar will highlight the significant value that certification brings to student affairs professionals and resources to support you and your staff through certification. 

NIRSA is committed to creating professional pathways through in-depth explorations of functional areas across collegiate recreation. Complementing available resources such as the Campus Recreation Essentials series, the Recreation 101 Virtual Course series gives NIRSA members the opportunity to establish a core, introductory knowledge base tied to specific content domains.

The Recreation 101 Virtual Courses are fully online, asynchronous experiences so participants can take them whenever they like and at their own pace. Each of them is anchored by approximately four hours of on-demand video content designed and taught by experts in each functional area. These courses are designed to be evergreen and will be reviewed and updated periodically to showcase current best practices in the profession.

Introduction to Collegiate Sport Clubs 101 video modules will be available starting on Wednesday, July 24.**

**Please note that the first video module will be immediately available on July 24 and Modules 2-4 will be uploaded as soon they are finalized.

This course presents an overview of collegiate Sport Clubs designed to help a new or prospective professional gain an understanding of operations and best practices for developing and leading a sport clubs program. Participants will learn to identify how sport clubs programs are situated within campus structures and how relationships between campus partners can be most effectively built and maintained. Finances and funding, licensing, and national body governance will be explained through the lens of sport clubs to offer models of successful program management. The course outlines core approaches to sport clubs program design including student development, establishing roles and daily responsibilities, event planning, risk management, and creating policy language. Finally, with career development in mind the facilitators will recommend ways to enhance personal knowledge, navigate conferences and workshops, and leverage your network for ideal career opportunities. Upon completing the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. 

In addition to this Introduction to Collegiate Sport Clubs 101 course, check out the rest of our lineup releasing this year:

• Introduction to Collegiate Intramural Sports 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Esports 101

For Institutional Bundle Registrants: Included with the Bundle are 5 free registrations. For each additional after 5, there is a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing. After the Bundle is purchased, you will be emailed 2 promo codes to be used to register your other attendees.

*Registration for any of these Recreation 101 courses grants a 25% discount coupon for any Campus Recreation Essentials book. 

NIRSA is committed to creating professional pathways through in-depth explorations of functional areas across collegiate recreation. Complementing available resources such as the Campus Recreation Essentials series, the Recreation 101 Virtual Course series gives NIRSA members the opportunity to establish a core, introductory knowledge base tied to specific content domains.

The Recreation 101 Virtual Courses are fully online, asynchronous experiences so participants can take them whenever they like and at their own pace. Each of them is anchored by approximately four hours of on-demand video content designed and taught by experts in each functional area. These courses are designed to be evergreen and will be reviewed and updated periodically to showcase current best practices in the profession.

Introduction to Collegiate Esports 101 video modules will be available starting on Wednesday, October 16. **

**Please note that the first video module will be immediately available on October 16 and Modules 2-4 will be uploaded as soon they are finalized.

Instructors

Doug Ream - Eastern Kentucky University
Cybbi Barton - Texas Tech University
Chris Griebenow - University of California San Diego
Grant Deppen - Old Dominion University

Course Description

Have esports taken root on your campus yet? This course will provide a broad look at esports programming on college campuses by defining what esports are, discussing the benefits of participation, highlighting pathways for professional development, and exploring various administrative models. Learn how to navigate the array of tournaments, leagues, and events surrounding esports while staying budget-conscious when running special events and programs for your campus’ respective gaming communities. Tap into considerations for developing the right spaces for your campus community today and into the future. Finally, bring it all together by identifying and developing the best staff, participants, student-athletes, and techniques to help you deliver outstanding esports programs on your campus.

In addition to this Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101 course, check out the rest of our lineup releasing this year:

• Introduction to Collegiate Intramural Sports 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Sport Clubs 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101

For Institutional Bundle Registrants: Included with the Bundle are 5 free registrations. For each additional after 5, there is a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing. After the Bundle is purchased, you will be emailed 2 promo codes to be used to register your other attendees.

*Registration for any of these Recreation 101 courses grants a 25% discount coupon for any Campus Recreation Essentials book.  

NIRSA is committed to creating professional pathways through in-depth explorations of functional areas across collegiate recreation. Complementing available resources such as the Campus Recreation Essentials series, the Recreation 101 Virtual Course series gives NIRSA members the opportunity to establish a core, introductory knowledge base tied to specific content domains.

The Recreation 101 Virtual Courses are fully online, asynchronous experiences so participants can take them whenever they like and at their own pace. Each of them is anchored by approximately four hours of on-demand video content designed and taught by experts in each functional area. These courses are designed to be evergreen and will be reviewed and updated periodically to showcase current best practices in the profession.

Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101 video modules will be available starting on Wednesday, August 7. **

**Please note that the first video module will be immediately available on August 7 and Modules 2-4 will be uploaded as soon they are finalized.

Instructors

Paden Alie - Purdue University
Scott Flickinger - SUNY Cortland
Agnelia "Tiff" Hernandez - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Course Description

Are you looking to enhance the quality of your intramural sports program? Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101 is the perfect course to invest in for your team. This online course is specifically designed to equip you with the crucial skills and knowledge needed to effectively officiate a variety of intramural sports, ensuring fair play, safety, and a culture of fun and engagement. Topics discussed include student officials training, evaluation, leadership, recruitment, and retention. Outlets and outside resources will be highlighted to give you the resources you need to develop a successful officiating model, and the culture and environment of officiating will be explored as it relates to campus recreation. The course instructors will also outline career pathways, transferability, and continuing education opportunities to extend the throughline of officiating into professional workspaces and future learning.

In addition to this Introduction to Collegiate Recreation Officiating 101 course, check out the rest of our lineup releasing this year:

• Introduction to Collegiate Intramural Sports 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Sport Clubs 101
• Introduction to Collegiate Esports 101

For Institutional Bundle Registrants: Included with the Bundle are 5 free registrations. For each additional after 5, there is a 65% savings over regular individual registration pricing. After the Bundle is purchased, you will be emailed 2 promo codes to be used to register your other attendees.

*Registration for any of these Recreation 101 courses grants a 25% discount coupon for any Campus Recreation Essentials book.

NIRSA Award nominations are now open, and we will be going over more specifics on the Outstanding Facility Award, Creative Excellence Award, and the Campus Rec Innovative Programming Award.  We will discuss how the nominating process works and there will be time for a Q&A with some of the 2023 and 2024 award recipients.  

Ohio University's commitment to student wellbeing has been a transformative journey characterized by an evolving approach that integrates purpose-driven strategies and collaborative efforts across the campus. That approach is guided by the Well-Being & Recreation department's vision to be a catalyst for wellbeing that is accessible to all. Additionally, the university has prioritized creating an inclusive environment that supports not only the health of individual students but also the broader campus community.

After years of groundwork, the concept of Thrive has emerged as a way to encapsulate and communicate the collective student wellbeing work that had been building over time. Far from a static initiative, Thrive is the student-facing campaign that represents an ongoing evolution— continuously developing and adapting to meet the diverse needs of the student body. This approach has become a model for fostering holistic student wellbeing, enhancing interdepartmental cooperation, and driving systemic changes in campus wellbeing.

Driven by this vision, the department acts as a catalyst, not only in advancing their own wellbeing efforts but also in supporting and elevating the wellbeing work of others across campus. This purpose-driven approach to student care ensures that wellbeing is integrated into every facet of university life, creating a more connected, supportive, and healthy campus environment.