NIRSA 2021 Annual Conference Assessment Track Package

NIRSA 2021 Annual Conference Assessment Track Package

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    • Non-member - $160
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    • Institutional Member - $160
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This package features four sessions that will help you get up to speed on your assessment practices! 

  1. Culturally Responsible Assessment Practices: Inclusive Demographic Questions for Surveys, Questionnaires, Focus Groups, and Interview
  2. Assessing a Culture of Integrated Wellbeing
  3. Conducting Research and an Intramural Program Review
  4. Remote CASting: Navigating a Recreation Department CAS Review in a Virtual World


  • Creating a Culture of Integrated Wellbeing
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits Recorded On: 07/01/2020

    This presentation details Butler University’s intentional efforts to advance student wellbeing and the student experience. Butler’s “BU Be Well” model, developed through a strategic and collaborative campus-wide approach, is comprised of eight dimensions that provide the framework for a transformative student experience through holistic wellbeing. BU Be Well fosters a positive environment for student learning and development both inside and outside of the classroom.

    This presentation details Butler University’s intentional efforts to advance student wellbeing and the student experience. Butler’s “BU Be Well” model, developed through a strategic and collaborative campus-wide approach, is comprised of eight dimensions that provide the framework for a transformative student experience through holistic wellbeing. BU Be Well fosters a positive environment for student learning and development both inside and outside of the classroom. Co-author: Bridget Yuhas, Director of Student Affairs Assessment & Planning, Butler University

    Learning Objectives

    1. Define how your department can work and collaborate with campus stakeholders to form a transformative and holistic approach to student wellbeing.
    2. Be able to describe three to four ways that collaboration with campus stakeholders can enhance the student experience.
    3. Develop a marketing and branding strategy that supports a culture of wellbeing.

    Competencies

    • Business Management
    • Facilities Design & Management

    CEUs

    • 1.0 NIRSA CEUs


    Joshua Downing

    Director of Recreation & Wellness

    Butler University

    Bridget Yuhas

    Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Planning

    Butler University

    Dr. Bridget Yuhas has worked in student affairs functional areas such as student activities, alumni engagement, development, housing, and assessment. She also spent five years at the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) where she frequently wrote experimental item sets for NSSE’s partner survey, the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement. Since arriving at Butler University in 2018, Dr. Yuhas has created ways to measure the efficacy of BU|BeWell, Butler’s framework for student wellbeing, and share results of those measurements to inform stakeholders’ practices across campus. She has presented original research on student wellbeing at NASPA Strategies, NASPA Annual Conference, Assessment Institute, NIRSA Annual Conference, and NIRSA’s Summer of Learning; and is currently partnering with the National Wellness Institute to study professional wellbeing practitioner competencies both within and outside of higher education.

  • Assessing a Culture of Integrated Wellbeing
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Butler University’s framework for student wellbeing, BU|BeWell, has become a campus-wide initiative that provides a foundation for the entire undergraduate student experience. Creating a framework that united programming and outreach across campus necessitated the development of assessment strategies and tools that could show the impact of BU|BeWell for our students.  The presenters will describe the implementation of BU|BeWell, design of a multi-pronged assessment strategy, tools for gathering data, and how initial findings have guided decision-making for various areas at Butler.

    Butler University’s framework for student wellbeing, BU|BeWell, has become a campus-wide initiative that provides a foundation for the entire undergraduate student experience. Creating a framework that united programming and outreach across campus necessitated the development of assessment strategies and tools that could show the impact of BU|BeWell for our students. 

    The presenters will describe the implementation of BU|BeWell, design of a multi-pronged assessment strategy, tools for gathering data, and how initial findings have guided decision-making for various areas at Butler.

    Learning Objective(s) 

    1. Participants will be able to describe one method of assessing a campus-wide wellbeing framework.
    2. Participants will be able to use national surveys (e.g. NSSE) to assess a campus-wide wellbeing framework.
    3. Participants will be able to develop a campus-wide group of stakeholders to support and promote their wellbeing framework

    Bridget Yuhas

    Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Planning

    Butler University

    Dr. Bridget Yuhas has worked in student affairs functional areas such as student activities, alumni engagement, development, housing, and assessment. She also spent five years at the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) where she frequently wrote experimental item sets for NSSE’s partner survey, the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement. Since arriving at Butler University in 2018, Dr. Yuhas has created ways to measure the efficacy of BU|BeWell, Butler’s framework for student wellbeing, and share results of those measurements to inform stakeholders’ practices across campus. She has presented original research on student wellbeing at NASPA Strategies, NASPA Annual Conference, Assessment Institute, NIRSA Annual Conference, and NIRSA’s Summer of Learning; and is currently partnering with the National Wellness Institute to study professional wellbeing practitioner competencies both within and outside of higher education.

    Josh Downing

    Director | Recreation & Wellness

    Butler University

    Josh serves as the Director of Recreation and Wellness at Butler University. He oversees Recreation &  Wellness and executes a comprehensive student wellbeing initiative for the University through developing long and short term goals and overseeing the implementation of the strategies for achievement of the goals and objectives established. He earned his bachelors and masters from Indiana University and has been in recreation and wellness management since 2002. He has served on several NIRSA committees, is currently a member of the NIRSA Health and Well-being Task Force, a past president of the Indiana Recreation Sports Association (IRSA),  and past president of the Butler Staff Assembly.

  • Remote CASting: Navigating a Recreation Department CAS Review in a Virtual World
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits

    The Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) provides important criterion that facilitate best practices in higher education. Used primarily for program evaluation, CAS standards and guidelines in collegiate recreation are contributed to and supported by NIRSA. Traditionally, department CAS reviews and evaluations are conducted in-person and on-site, but Florida State University pivoted to an innovative remote review model at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, FSU broke the traditional "small ratings team model" by including the entire 26-person Campus Recreation staff in the ratings and evaluation process. Members of FSU's Campus Rec staff and FSU's Division Strategic Planning and Assessment staff share the CAS review process, their experiences and lessons learned, and the specific tools developed to ensure an easy remote review experience. This presentation will help Campus Rec leaders/administrators understand how to transition a department review to remote and give them the tools necessary to do so.

    The Council for Advancement of Standards (CAS) provides important criterion that facilitate best practices in higher education. Used primarily for program evaluation, CAS standards and guidelines in collegiate recreation are contributed to and supported by NIRSA. Traditionally, department CAS reviews and evaluations are conducted in-person and on-site, but Florida State University pivoted to an innovative remote review model at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, FSU broke the traditional "small ratings team model" by including the entire 26-person Campus Recreation staff in the ratings and evaluation process. Members of FSU's Campus Rec staff and FSU's Division Strategic Planning and Assessment staff share the CAS review process, their experiences and lessons learned, and the specific tools developed to ensure an easy remote review experience. This presentation will help Campus Rec leaders/administrators understand how to transition a department review to remote and give them the tools necessary to do so.

    Learning Objectives

    1. Understand the importance of regular department reviews and define CAS standards as an important evaluation tool.
    2. Describe an appropriate remote department review/evaluation process.
    3. Determine appropriate tools to conduct a remote CAS department review.


    April Lovett

    Director, Academic Health Data

    Florida State University

    Personal Pronouns: she/her/hers

    I am the Director of Academic Health Data for FSU Libraries.  NIRSA has been and continues to be an important part of my life; I've been a member for well over a decade, starting as a graduate student until now.  I am passionate about assessment, evaluation, research, and data analysis and also about diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

    Educational Background: University of West Florida (2007 B.S., 2009 M.S.)

    One of my favorite things to do is review survey questions for people to ensure they are inclusive and the questions are going to yield usable data that answers the question the survey poses.  If you ever want a survey review, feel free to connect with me via email (april.lovett@fsu.edu) or using Twitter or LinkedIn. My husband, Darryl Lovett, and I also host a podcast about bridging the gap between racial boundaries: Success in Black and White.  The link is provided in the website below.

    Ashford Evans-Brown

    Assistant Director | Fitness Facility Operations

    Florida State University

    I am currently the Assistant Director of Fitness Facility Operations at Florida State University where my job functions include oversight of our staff and operations at the Leach Recreation Center and Fitness & Movement Clinic. I have has been in this role for two years and loving it.

    I am a huge sports fan - all things Houston! I also coach our FSU Women's Rugby Club - I play a little rugby on the side.

    I'll be online periodically during conference days, please visit the Networking section to message me if you want to connect or have more questions about my session. 

    Chris Toliver

    Coordinator of Competitive Sports Facilities

    Florida State University

    I am currently the Coordinator of Competitive Sports Facilities at Florida State University where my job functions include overseeing our 7 competitive sports facilities including 4 indoor basketball courts, 2 outdoor basketball courts, 12 tennis courts, 2 sand volleyball courts and over 112 acres of outdoor field space between our various locations. I oversee the staffing and programming at each location, including Intramural Sports and Sport Club practices and events. I have been in this role for 3 years, directly following 2 years as a Graduate Assistant for Facility Operations at Georgia Southern University. 

    Darryl Lovett

    Associate Director

    Florida State University

    I am an Associate Director for Campus Recreation at Florida State University overseeing all things Fitness and Facilities related (programs and facilities operations). I also serve as the department lead for Assessment and a co-lead for Finance and Accounting. 

    Kari Scott

    Member Services Coordinator

    Florida State University

    I am the Member Services Coordinator with FSU Campus Recreation. I am originally from Michigan, did my undergrad at the University of Dayton and grad school at Indiana University. This is my fourth NIRSA annual conference (attended: DC, Denver, Boston), but first virtual! :)

    Lynn Grasso

    Assistant Director, Campus Recreation

    Florida State University

    I am the Assistant Director of Fitness Programs at FSU Campus Recreation and oversee Fitness, Group Fitness and Small Group Training in two facilities, as well as outdoor programming at multiple sites.

    I have been a member, active (and sometimes MIA) of NIRSA for over 20 years and I am happy to be back!  I am a 2-time alumna of FSU with my degrees in Dietetics, B.S and Higher Education, M.S.  

    My committee work involves serving as the co-lead of FSU's Healthy Campus 2030 Physical Health Team, and as the Chair for FSU's Division of Student Affairs Asian American Task Force.

  • Conducting Research and an Intramural Program Review
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Despite the reported benefits of campus recreation, university administrators continue to require evidence to justify allocating resources to campus recreation. Therefore, it is important to perform regular evaluations to better communicate program benefits and understand areas of improvement.This program will present the findings of an intramural research project and program evaluation. The findings demonstrate how the benefits that students experience from participation, and service quality can contribute to student retention and program satisfaction. It also shows how research can be conducted within the campus recreation department to produce a practical report with multiple recommendations for program improvement.

    Despite the reported benefits of campus recreation, university administrators continue to require evidence to justify allocating resources to campus recreation. Therefore, it is important to perform regular evaluations to better communicate program benefits and understand areas of improvement. This program will present the findings of an intramural research project and program evaluation. The findings demonstrate how the benefits that students experience from participation, and service quality can contribute to student retention and program satisfaction. It also shows how research can be conducted within the campus recreation department to produce a practical report with multiple recommendations for program improvement. Learning Objective(s)

    Understand how a program evaluation can be conducted in partnership with graduate students to produce both a practical report and research manuscript.

    Demonstrate the relationship between four dimensions of program benefits, service quality and both student retention and program satisfaction. Provide research backed examples of how to improve intramural programming.

    Kevin Wilson

    Canadian Student Leader

    University of Waterloo

    Currently in my first year of PhD studies after recently completing a MHK Degree in Sport Management. I've worked in intramural programming for 6 years and have been involved in recreational programming for approximately 10 years. Over the last two years, I've been a member of the NIRSA Canada Leadership Team and am currently standing election as the Canadian Student Rep on the member network. In the past, I've presented multiple sessions at NIRSA regional conferences on the subject of cultivating student staff teams. For my PhD, I'd like to conduct research in the Campus Recreation space to help better understand how we as professionals can understand and meet students' changing needs.

    Education Background
    Leisure Studies, P.h.D., University of Waterloo (2024)
    Sport Management, M.H.K., University of Windsor
    Community Recreation, B.R.L.S., Brock University

    I'll be online periodically during conference days, please visit the Networking section to message me if you want to connect or have more questions about my session.