Preconference Workshops

preconference workshops

It’s becoming more and more critical for collegiate recreation leaders to not only contribute to but also lead wellbeing efforts on their campuses. How do you integrate your recreation department’s work into divisional/institutional level priorities? How do you measure success? Participate in this preconference workshop to learn why assessment is the “secret sauce” for a successful wellbeing initiative. Participants will use time during the workshop to draft plans so they can bring ideas, tools, and strategies back to their campuses and subsequently lead successful wellbeing initiatives.

Join women-identifying attendees for a day filled with personal and professional development, self-reflection, storytelling, and best practices to MOVE your career forward. The workshop will have sessions that explore motivation, taking ownership of your success story, and ways to encourage ourselves and each other through challenging times. The workshop includes a topic-driven lunch as well as a networking hour.

This program will feature facilitation by Women+ Caucus members and guest presenters. The day will feature committee members Stefani Plummer (California Baptist University), Mila Padgett (University of South Carolina, Aiken), Katie Geter (University of Arkansas), Kelsie Jones (Western Carolina University) , Kristin Traskie (Michigan State University) and Rachael Finley (York College of Pennsylvania) as well as presenters Lashica Thomas (Columbus State University), Tiffany Lomax (Colby College), and Tamara Jarrett (Connect2Concepts).

For most institutions, campus recreation would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our student employees. We know that students who work on campus, specifically in collegiate recreation, get much more than just a paycheck. Now more than ever it’s important to consider how we invest in our most important resource: our student staff.

Join members of the Student Staff Development Task Force for a half-day filled with time for professionals to consider and re-consider student development. This is more than just a training session. It’s about investing in our students and ensuring that they’re growing and developing as a result of their employment within collegiate recreation.

Attendees will have the chance to customize their workshop experience by engaging in topical discussions around their interests or learning goals.

Some of the topics discussed will include:  The difference between training and development, learning outcomes, student development theory, development in changing times, graduate student development, EDI practices, training sessions, and assessment.

Higher education and campus recreation is being disrupted by the war for talent, and the lasting impacts of a once in a century global pandemic. Senior leaders need to imagine new ways to engage or re-engage employees and recruit and retain top talent in a labor market where employees hold more power than ever before. What methods employed during the pandemic are here to stay, and what needs to be discarded in the transition to a new normal?

At the same time, two years of a global pandemic is disrupting participant expectations, program delivery, and value propositions for campus recreation. At a time when leaders are making changes or reductions to programs and program delivery to align with current resources and participant expectations, updated value proposition must align and continue to demonstrate meaningful impact on student success.

In this highly participatory workshop, senior leaders will consider these change drivers and co-create new paths and new models for the campus recreation portfolio of the future. Participants will learn more about the leadership skills needed to navigate disruption and have an opportunity to crowd source solutions to current challenges.