News

Research Institute Advisory Board meets in Columbus, Ohio

Highlights from the meeting

Attendees of the Research Institute Summer Advisory Board Meeting (left to right): Tyler Fortman (The Ohio State University); Paul Milton (Ashland University); John Jackson (University of Alabama); Mike Dunn (The Ohio State University); Mary Daniels (The Ohio State University); Connie Boehm (The Ohio State University); Danell Haines (The Ohio State University); Kathleen Hill (The Ohio State University); Kent Blumenthal (NIRSA); Sid Gonsoulin (University of Southern Mississippi); Tony Brown (University of Minnesota); George Brown (University of Alabama); Mary Callender (NNC Staff Liaison).

The National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness held its annual Advisory Board meeting July 30-August 1 at The Ohio State University. The Research Institute, in partnership with NIRSA, operates within The Ohio State University’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center and provides the infrastructure needed to conduct, report, and teach research skills. It also provides data needed to defend recreational sports’ existence, align for further growth, and make superior decisions regarding programs, services, and facilities.

Agenda items that were discussed at the Summer Advisory Board meeting included:

• The Facility Inventory survey, and ensuing 2008 publication by Human Kinetics, tentatively titled Collegiate Recreational Sports: A Guidebook for Determining Facility Space Needs.
• Preliminary results of the Students Outcomes survey conducted at the 2007 NIRSA Collegiate Volleyball Championships. The preliminary results are very positive in relation to sport club participation. Portions of the survey will be compared to a control group of students who don’t participate in sport clubs.
• A teleconference call was held with Student Voice about the NIRSA/Student Voice relationship and how the Research Institute can be involved.
• Research Institute marketing opportunities, including the development of a new brochure.
• Updates on various research projects, grant programs, presentation opportunities and the Recreational Sports Journal.

The Research Institute staff and board members have made research a priority by conducting numerous pre-conference and educational sessions related to research, as well as providing articles for the Research section of the NIRSA Know. For more information on the Research Institute, please contact Dr. Danell Haines.