News

NIRSA to establish Knowledge Communities

“Think tanks” will pool knowledge and ideas on key issues

During their recent Midyear Board Meeting (September 10-13) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the NIRSA Board of Directors authorized criteria for NIRSA Knowledge Communities (KCs) and directed President Maureen McGonagle to appoint KCs in three areas: student learning, sustainability, and health & wellness.

NIRSA Knowledge Communities will effectively serve as “think tanks,” and they will differ from NIRSA committees or work teams in several significant ways:

• KCs will be responsible for providing ideas, innovations, and leadership to the NIRSA Board of Directors and NIRSA National Center staff in cognitive and operational domains important to the administration of collegiate recreational sports programs.
• Domains addressed by KCs would be “new frontiers” or underdeveloped realms, and KCs will suggest to the Association new and revised goals and activities consistent with NIRSA’s Strategic Map, Mission and Vision.
• KCs would offer an environment to share views on emerging knowledge and professional practice, tools and techniques.

KCs are about gathering and generating information in a specific interest area, discussing the information, looking for examples of practicing the information, and making some judgment about the worthiness of the findings. KCs are responsible for identifying those compelling topics that need to be shared with the NIRSA membership, and contributing to NIRSA publications about these themes.

Members of KCs will be appointed by the NIRSA President for one-year terms, which may be extended. Appointments will be made based on demonstrated expertise, education, and interest in the particular KC domain under consideration. The majority of KC appointments will be NIRSA Members, although nonmembers may also be included.

Future updates will be provided in eFASTNEWS and NIRSA Know member communications.