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NIRSA State of the Association address by Tom Kirch, NIRSA President
Association highlights from the past 12 months
It is an honor to provide to our membership the annual State of the Association report for your review. This past year has been one of great accomplishments while at the same time making decisions and taking steps to place the Association into a sustainable position for the future. As a member-driven organization, the initiatives, activities, and actions over the last year have been a real team effort that has advanced NIRSA. None of this could happen without significant contributions by members, professional and students, committees, work teams, state and provincial directors, and the members of the three boards (NIRSA, NIRSA Services Corporation, and NIRSA Foundation Boards of Directors). All of this would not be possible without the services and expertise of a dedicated and talented NIRSA National Center staff.
To best appreciate all of the successes and accomplishments this year, I would suggest you review the following documents.
Here is a brief overview of our accomplishments for 2007-08.
People
So what was great this past year? First it was the people, who believe in and support the mission of the organization, contribute to NIRSA accomplishments, and bring out the best in each other and all that we do. In the past 12 months there have been a record number of professional, emerging leader, and student volunteers who have stepped forward to provide time, talent, and passion in delivering more than 60 NIRSA educational events where over 6,500 participants gathered for learning, sharing, creating of knowledge, and networking with colleagues. An additional 5,000 students have been the beneficiaries of the work of over 600 volunteers who planned, programmed, and hosted numerous NIRSA sporting events. There were over 400 members who served on nearly 50 committees and work teams, producing great work that provided strategic advancement to the Association and our profession. There have been numerous contributions from state and provincial directors, state and institutional student representatives, regional student leaders, and many other volunteers not formally appointed to organized groups.
Governance Review
At the Annual Business Meeting conducted during the 2007 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, NIRSA Members spoke up during the “Committee of the Whole” session and expressed their willingness to support changes to the current governance model. According to results of the 2007 Comprehensive NIRSA Member Survey, a majority of NIRSA Members agreed that “NIRSA should pursue a governance structure that improves its ability to effectively govern the association,” and that “NIRSA should pursue a nomination and elections process to slate the most qualified candidates.” This may be one of the most important and significant undertakings the Association has taken in many years.
The best associations are always evaluating their infrastructure in order to stay relevant for their members. NIRSA has a real opportunity here to take a hard look at our governance model and make informed decisions about how it can be better. Last spring, I created a Governance Commission of highly regarded NIRSA Members who have extensive association involvement and a reputation of productive and timely work. This commission is identifying what long-term governance infrastructure (process and structure) NIRSA will need to enhance success and create diverse options for involvement and leadership in order to provide a strong, relevant value proposition for membership.
In support of that effort the Government Commission appointed 24 NIRSA Members to a Young Leaders Advisory Group and 23 NIRSA Members to a Senior Leaders Peer Group. Great effort was made to balance experience, regional affiliation, and demographic diversity on these advisory groups. Discussions with members about a proposed new governance model will take place at the Annual Conference in Austin. After a year-long opportunity for conversation, input and response, it is anticipated that the membership will take action on these recommendations at the 2009 Annual Conference.
Responsibility Initiative
Over the last several years, the Student Leadership Team, the Board of Directors and others have been discussing a concern of professionalism within NIRSA. These conversations have focused on the concerns of personal behavior and conduct at NIRSA events, especially at our Annual Conference. The vast majority of conduct and behavior at NIRSA events are of high standards and very much consistent with the NIRSA Code of Ethics, our commitment to professionalism, and positive role modeling. However, there is significant evidence that there is a condition within NIRSA, and perhaps within other organizations that serve higher education, that needs to be addressed. Subsequently, these concerns have been shared with a variety of our members, including the NIRSA Board of Directors and others in NIRSA leadership positions. In almost all cases, this information was a new awareness.
In spring 2007 I formed the Responsibility Initiative Work Team, chaired by Linda Clauss, former National Student Representative, to address this issue. The Student Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, partnering with the Work Team, have come together to initiate what is being called Leading Together. This effort is to bring increased awareness to our Association and to educate the membership around the issues of professionalism, responsible decision-making, and the impact our behavior has on others. There are a variety of activities and efforts that are currently being undertaken, much of which you will see at the Annual Conference in Austin: NIRSA Institutional Member Directors signing a pledge to discuss with their professional and student staff the issue of behavior and responsibility; the signing of the Responsibility Pledge banner by all conference attendees; and the wearing of the Responsibility Ribbon by those who sign the banner.
Desired Image/Strategic Position
NIRSA will seek out opportunities to utilize its resources to proactively create partnerships that support and enhance its strategic goals and mission. Those efforts have been successful by both the growing collaborations and increased recognition and respect given by other higher education associations and related organizations.
Publications: Campus Recreation: Essentials for the Professional. In NIRSA's new book, Campus Recreation: Essentials for the Professional, 29 contributing authors share their expertise on all facets of campus recreation. With its expansive coverage, practical approach, and a CD-ROM containing worksheets, forms, and checklists, this publication will make an ideal textbook for any recreational sports curriculum and help entry-level and paraprofessionals prepare for a successful career in campus recreation. Other publications: Second edition of the NIRSA Slow Pitch Softball Rules Book; launch of the NIRSA Officiating Flag Football online course.
Professional Registry: Based on the Phase II Report submitted by the NIRSA Professional Registry Work Team and prepared by consultant Dr. Cheryl Wild, the NIRSA Board of Directors voted to establish a Professional Registry, or credentialing program, for the field of collegiate recreational sports. The estimated timeline for the implementation is 2-3 years. Additionally, the Board voted to support a research study that would validate core competencies in campus recreation and assist in establishing a professional development framework tied to continuing education units for the Professional Registry. Responsibility for developing the Professional Registry infrastructure rests with the Professional Registry Work Team, which will remain in effect until such time as the infrastructure is completed and a National Registry Governing Board is established. Six NIRSA knowledge areas have been identified in the Professional Registry-Phase II Report (philosophy and theory, programming, management techniques, business procedures, facility management/planning and design, and research and evaluation). This work will be coordinated with the NIRSA Standards Committee, and with the NIRSA Curriculum Work Team, which is validating core competencies for entry-level professionals within collegiate recreational sports.
Knowledge Community on Sustainability: NIRSA’s Sustainability Knowledge Community met at the NIRSA National Center in Corvallis, Oregon on June 21 for its first face-to-face meeting. A Knowledge Community (KC) is similar to a think tank and its charge was to provide ideas, innovations, and leadership to the NIRSA Board of Directors in the form of recommendations for the future [other NIRSA Knowledge Communities have been formed in the areas of Student Learning and Health & Wellness]. NIRSA has implemented a number of recommendations: co-sponsored webinar on Sustainability with the Higher Education Associations’ Sustainability Consortium (HEASC); initiated a monthly sustainability column in the NIRSA Know; Executive Director Blumenthal participated in the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Summit held in Washington D.C., convened by HEASC; and instituted sustainable practices by increasing the use of technology (reduction of printed materials) and using recycled materials and products.
Partnerships: NIRSA has accepted invitations to appoint representatives to the American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Healthy Campus 2020 and to the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) American National Standard for Health and Fitness Facilities, as well as collaborated with a number of higher education organizations to present webinars, primarily through our relationships in CHEMA. This is evidence that our relationships produce an awareness by others of the role we play in higher education.
NIRSA Services Corporation: The NIRSA Services Corporation (NSC) entered into an agreement with HyperLife Marketing Group to develop a fully capable sports marketing business, including sponsorship opportunities for NIRSA Member Institutions and the National Campus Championship Series (NCCS). NSC believes that HyperLife represents the very best opportunity to develop an effective and sustainable business that will meet the needs of our members and the students they serve. To date, sponsorship agreements have been signed with POWERade, CBS College Sports Network, Champion, and Leet.
Knowledge-Based Governance/Operational Efficiency
As noted above, a major effort has been given to evaluating our current governance structure. There are many other intentional efforts to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our governance, processes used to advance the work of the association, and provide a sound knowledge base for decision making and actions.
Governance Commission: Established commission to evaluate current governance structures and processes and make recommendations for improvements; established Peer Advisory Review Team and Young Leaders Advisory Group to provide feedback to the Governance Commission. Not mentioned above is changing the roles of NIRSA officers and board members to allow for more time for strategic discussions and less time engaged in operations and administration. One of the Governance Commission’s goals is to increase the pool of otherwise qualified volunteers who are willing to stand for office and serve as leaders of the Association.
Committee and Work Team Structures: In an effort to improve the effectiveness of the committee/work team structure, significant changes are being made to allow for clear and meaningful charges and work assignments, improved communication, and effective accountability, in alignment with the Strategic Map and NIRSA goals and mission. In addition, the Governance Commission is addressing this issue and hopes to reduce the bureaucratic burden on volunteer leaders of having to administer committees/work teams. Central to this proposal is the intent for NIRSA National Center (NNC) staff to consult with NIRSA Board Members when appropriate, and to keep the lines of communication between NNC staff and board members open regarding committee/work team administration.
Financial Position: NIRSA’s financial position has never been brighter. With the review and recommendations of the Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, the Finance Committee, and action by the Board of Directors, surplus net revenues have been allocated to further pay down the NNC building debt, and for the first time fully fund the Operating Reserve fund and the Building Reserves Fund. Our reach to Associate Members, exhibitors, partnerships, and other relationships have all contributed to the excellent financial future for the Association.
Consistent with association best practices, a complete financial audit was conducted by outside CPA firm for FY2006. The CPA firm found that NIRSA has excellent oversight of all financial matters and that appropriate practices are in place to ensure reliability and transparency for the Association. A decision was made to conduct such an audit on an annual basis.
Foundation: The NIRSA Foundation is very close to meeting the goal of $1,000,000. The Board is currently developing plans for the $2,000,000 campaign.
Research Agenda
NIRSA is committed to supporting the growth and development of knowledge that is significant to the field of recreational sports, identifying through research the benefits to such programs, and assessing the marketplace of its members and participants.
National Research Institute: The partnership with the National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness has been extended through December 2008. The NIRSA Advisory Board to the Research Institute established protocol to consider member requests for research assistance and access to the NIRSA database for survey administration.
The National Research Institute is working toward developing a college recreational sports (CRS) research clearinghouse with the purpose of promoting collaborative CRS research. Collaborative research involves working jointly and cooperatively with others on a research project. To facilitate collaborative research within CRS, the NRI is compiling an inventory of past, present, and future research in the field of CRS. If you have conducted research in the past 10 years, have a research project planned, or have ideas on the direction that research, please contact the NRI.
CAS Standards: After an almost four-year process of reviewing and revising the NIRSA Recreational Sports General Standards, the NIRSA Standards Committee (Chair Kathy Bayless, Indiana University) submitted the revised standards to the CAS Executive Committee last August. The CAS Executive Committee and then the CAS ‘committee of the whole’ approved revised standards for Collegiate Recreational Sports recommended by NIRSA. The CAS Standards and Guidelines for Recreational Sports Programs will be published in the next edition of the CAS Professional Standards for Higher Education, expected to be released in the fall 2009. The approved Standards and Guidelines for Recreational Sports Programs have also been posted on the NIRSA website.
Research: Research projects completed this year include NIRSA Volleyball Student Outcomes Study 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. The Collegiate Recreation Facilities Standards Inventory (administered between 2005 and 2007 by the National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness) gathered nearly 200 responses from colleges and universities reporting on the current sizes of their indoor and outdoor facilities, as well as the sizes they felt they really needed in order to accommodate users. A publication of the data within a user-friendly planning guide is expected to be published later this year by Human Kinetics.
Member Recruitment, Development and Retention
As a member-driven organization, NIRSA is committed to its focus on membership benefits and there has been significant advancement and strengthening of those efforts.
Membership Recruitment: Progress continues in the design and development of membership initiatives for small 4-year schools and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A phone survey of colleges and universities with enrollment less than 5,000 students was completed in December 2007. Recruitment strategies have been developed for both initiatives, which have target launch dates scheduled for summer 2008.
New Education Opportunities: NIRSA cosponsored the Learning Reconsidered Institute in collaboration with SAHEC in St. Louis, Missouri. As part of NIRSA’s partnership in the Higher Education Associations’ Sustainability Consortium (HEASC), NIRSA is cosponsoring the ACPA Institute on Sustainability at Harvard University in June 2008. In addition, collaborative webinars were offered on Sustainability in Higher Education and Legal Issues in Higher Education.
Learning Reconsidered II: Following the success of the Learning Reconsidered (LR) and LR2 publications, the Student Affairs in Higher Education Consortium (SAHEC) developed a web-based version of LR. The website complements the printed publications with user-friendly tools, forums, and resources that allow for further descriptions and applications of program examples. Nineteen case studies were submitted by NIRSA members, eight of which were accepted - more than any other association.
Health & Wellness Passport: NIRSA established the Health & Wellness Passport program, presented by Matrix, which affords faculty and staff of participating NIRSA Institutional Member “Passport” schools access to campus recreation facilities of other Institutional Member Passport schools, free of charge, subject to rules and regulations of each participating Passport school. Matrix agreed to a five-year commitment as presenting sponsor of the program.
NIRSA Know: In response to member inquiries, three new columns have been added to the NIRSA Know monthly newsletter: Sustainability - As a member of the Higher Education Associations’ Sustainability Consortium (HEASC), NIRSA shares relevant updates from that organization, as well as other information that may assist collegiate recreational sports professionals in their institutions’ green efforts; Legal Q&A - NIRSA members can learn more about the legal aspects of their profession, courtesy of Dr. James C. Kozlowski. Risk Management - features a column on topics related to campus recreation by Ian McGregor, who is a recognized expert on risk management in the sport and recreation fields.
Emeritus Membership: We approved new criteria for consideration of Emeritus Membership. Emeritus Members have all rights and privileges of Professional Members, including the right to hold office, but are not required to pay membership dues. In addition to years of membership, the new criteria place value on leadership involvement. The NIRSA Board makes the final determination as to whether or not Emeritus status is granted.
Conclusion
This year has been memorable in a number of ways. First, we experienced record levels of participation in NIRSA educational, networking, and sporting events, and other activities that meet the needs of our members. Second, we expanded our capacity in the area of research that will provide much needed evidence-based outcomes for our profession. Third, we are addressing the future by identifying a sustainable governance processes that will allow us to adapt to the changing environment. And finally, led by the Student Leadership Team, a focus is being given to reinforcing our commitment to positive role-modeling and responsible decision making.
In all of this I have been most impressed by my colleagues on the Board of Directors, the NIRSA Foundation Board Members, the NSC Board, the Student Leadership Team, committee and work team chairs, hosts of a variety of NIRSA meetings, and the NIRSA National Center staff. Although there has been deliberate debate and discussion, at time a difference of opinion, and even strong positions taken, there has always been one constant – the willingness and positive intent to do what is best for NIRSA and our profession.
Thank You
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the Association as President this year. It is an experience that I will never forget. In my travels this year, I have always been welcomed with open arms by generous hosts, and members who have a genuine interest in and care for the work we all do. What a talented and passionate group of people who never failed to energize me and to reinforce what I already knew - that the work we do makes a positive difference in the lives of students by contributing to their personal development, the quality of their campus experience, and the advancement of a healthy lifestyle.
One cannot serve the Association in the capacity of President without support and encouragement from others. I want to thank the NIRSA Board of Directors for their attentiveness this year and their willingness to stay with the issues at hand until resolved. Thank you to the NIRSA National Center for all of their assistance, reminders, and attention to the needs of the President. Thank you to all of my colleagues at Oregon State University who had to take on additional responsibilities and make sacrifices for a President to have a measure of success throughout his tenure in office. With a grateful heart, please accept my sincere appreciation for what all of you have provided to me this past year as well as in previous years.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Kirch
2007-08 NIRSA President
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