Preconference Workshops

NIRSA 2024 Phoenix

Get a Head Start

Please note that Preconference Workshops have a maximum capacity. Registration is first-come-first-served.

Reviving Your Risk Management

1:00pm-3:00pm • $30 through March 6 / $40 beginning March 7

First Aid/CPR/AED knowledge and skills decline within as little as three months after training. This session will show the basics of running efficient and strategic emergency drills to retain this information and the skills needed to assist patrons in emergencies. There are many steps to implementing a full Emergency Action Plan, and they involve more than what your students learn in their certification courses. Participants will get to participate in “mini” drills and practice some easy moulage (make-up) techniques to increase the realism of drills.

*Please note, this workshop has a maximum capacity of 50 attendees. Registration is first come, first served.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 2 Credit Hours
Core + Campus Recreation Specialty

You Belong Here: Belonging as an Outcome, not an EDI Checklist

8:00am-noon • $39 through March 6 / $49 beginning March 7

Coffee will be served

You Belong Here helps leaders and practitioners understand the critical role Belonging has in the recruitment and retention of participants of all identities, abilities, cultures, faiths, histories, and motivations. Utilizing The Belonging Framework, learners will focus on the 3 pillars – INVITED, WELCOMED, and INCLUDED – and explore theory, complete activities, and apply the framework in a variety of areas such as programming, facilities, marketing, collaborations, and assessment to create a more inclusive and equitable participant experience.

Igniting Your Growth Mindset: Coaching Skills for Collegiate Recreation Professionals

8:00am-3:00pm • $99 through March 6 / $119 beginning March 7

Lunch will be provided

This coaching pre-conference is designed to equip collegiate recreation professionals with essential coaching skills, transforming your leadership and the teams you support. Through coaching, managers and leaders can learn to ask questions that empower their teams to perform, solve their challenges, and gain valuable skills that will benefit their careers and lives. We will explore the benefits of adopting a coach approach in supervision, how to cultivate a curious mindset, and how to move from “supervisor to coach.” Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants will learn and practice valuable coaching skills, to build stronger relationships with staff, and students, thereby enhancing their overall leadership effectiveness.

Join this coaching workshop to expand your coaching skills, and develop meaningful relationships with staff, peers, and students. By embracing a coach approach, you will unlock the potential for transformative interactions and achieve positive outcomes in your working relationships.

*Please note, this workshop has a maximum capacity of 40 attendees. Registration is first come, first served.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 7 Credit Hours
Core + Campus Recreation Specialty

New (and still feeling new) Directors Connection

9:00am-noon • $39 through March 6 / $49 beginning March 7

Coffee will be provided

During the 2023 annual conference a session was held for new directors. Participants overwhelmingly wanted more time together based on the feedback that was received. This workshop has been created to facilitate the expansion of professional networks and to give space to discuss current challenges and opportunities for newly promoted directors. Promotion into a director role often means your professional networks need to expand. As a director you face unique challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities, and building a network in NIRSA can provide support and a sounding board with individuals in similar situations. Join your peers during this session to cultivate new connections and expand your network while contributing your own lived experiences and learnings.

*Please note, this workshop has a maximum capacity of 25 attendees. Registration is first come, first served.

Compassion, Communication, Connection (C3 Program): Building University-Wide Capacity for Motivational Interviewing

8:00am-noon • $39 through March 6 / $49 beginning March 7

Coffee & snacks will be provided

The C3 Program originated in 2018 when Arizona State University (ASU) received grant funds to create a university-wide educational program to enhance non-clinician skills in recognizing the signs of substance misuse and knowing how to intervene. Since this time, ASU has discovered that the created training reaches beyond substance misuse and can be used to help faculty, staff, and student leaders recognize the signs of emotional distress and check in and connect individuals to appropriate services.

Using the principles of Motivational Interviewing, a training program was developed that enhances participants’ skills in building the students’ self-confidence and trust in themselves. This style of communication encourages students to take responsibility for themselves and their actions and know they have the power to make positive changes in their lives.

Participants of this precon will gain an understanding of how compassionate communication can lead to making connections needed to support student well-being. They will be encouraged to replicate skill-building training that equips faculty, staff, and student leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance a student’s internal motivation and support positive behavior change.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 4.5 Credit Hours
Social Justice & Inclusion

Train the Trainer: NIRSA Flag Football Officiating

Noon-3:00pm • $39 through March 6 /$49 beginning March 7

Coffee will be provided

This program will provide an opportunity for students and professionals in Intramural Sports to learn about techniques for training student officials. Recent significant changes to the NIRSA Flag & Touch Football Rules Book, in addition to a number of experienced flag football officials trainers leaving the collegiate recreation field in recent years, has created a need for additional training for those who will be training the next generation of flag football officials. Additionally, flag football is growing at a rapid pace outside of intramural sports. Flag football’s growth at the youth and high school levels will lead to a growth in the intramural, club, and tournament levels within NIRSA. This train the trainer program will contribute to the fight to reduce the officiating shortage at all levels, bolstering the partnership between NIRSA and NFL FLAG. Better training will improve the quality of officiating on campuses and at regional and national tournaments, leading to a higher quality experience for participants. You will leave this session with tools and techniques to take back to your campus and train students to officiate flag football at all levels.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 3.5 Credit Hours
Core + Campus Recreation Specialty

Connecting, Engaging, & Leading: Supporting Student Success through Leadership Development.

Noon-3:00pm • $39 through March 6 /$49 beginning March 7

Coffee will be provided

Explore innovative strategies to identify, cultivate, and develop students as dynamic leaders in this enlightening session. Our presenters will share best practices for meaningful student connections, fostering growth, and creating a sense of belonging. Discover how to design opportunities beyond the classroom, providing valuable leadership experiences and skill development. Join us to transform education and contribute to shaping empowered leaders for the future.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 3.5 Credit Hours
Core

Advancing and Empowering Women to Lead

8:00am-3:00pm • $99 through March 6 / $119 beginning March 7

Coffee & lunch will be provided

This precon workshop was first facilitated at the NIRSA Annual Conference in 2016. The purpose was to create a workshop that focused on strategies specific to women and their trajectory within the field of collegiate recreation. Over the years, the content has been polished by different leaders in the field in order to keep the offering fresh and relevant. The goal of this years’ interactive workshop is to enhance participants tools and strategies in human and social capital that has direct impact on advancing and empowering women to lead themselves and others.

*Please note, this workshop has a maximum capacity of 40 attendees. Registration is first come, first served.

CSAEd CE Credit Domain(s) – 7 Credit Hours
Core + Campus Recreation Specialty

Unlocking Fusion: Mastering Core Functions with Confidence

8:00am-4:00pm • $75 through March 6 / $95 beginning March 7

Coffee & lunch will be provided

Dive into the heart of Fusion with our beginner-focused workshop! This session is tailored for users who are new to Fusion, offering a deep exploration of its core functionalities. From navigating the software to harnessing essential tools, this workshop will provide you with the skills to navigate Fusion confidently. Join us for an interactive session where you’ll unravel the key features that make Fusion an indispensable tool in your daily workflow.

By the end of this workshop, you will have a solid grasp of Fusion’s core functionality, empowering you to navigate and utilize the software effectively in your day-to-day work. Join us for an immersive learning experience and embark on your journey to master the essential elements of Fusion!

*Please note, this workshop has a maximum capacity of 100 attendees. Registration is first come, first served.

preconference workshops

Thursday, March 23

Join colleagues and meet new ones in these focused settings

Sold Out! Student Staff Development Workshop

Details coming soon.

Women Leading Women Workshop

8:00am–3:00pm • $95/$115 • Lunch is included

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.

Learning Outcomes

Explain self-efficacy as it pertains to the personal leadership journey
Develop mentor/mentee relationships with attendees and facilitators participating in the workshop
Identify personal and professional roles to design an intentional leadership plan for future professional and personal growth

Mid-Level Professionals Workshop

8:00am–3:00pm • $95/$115 • Lunch is included

Join other mid-level professionals for a day of networking and collaboration covering topics like influencing change, making critical decisions, budgeting, and supervision. As middle managers you are strongly positioned to contribute to organizational culture and leading your colleagues. By attending this session, you will be able to make connections with other professionals in similar positions and learn from those with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Learning Outcomes

Learn about the leadership skills needed for success as a mid-level professional in collegiate recreation
Develop an understanding of the middle leadership role and importance to your organization in managing from the middle
Develop skills in strategic planning, budget oversight, and personnel management
Expand professional network by connecting with other mid-level managers through an interactive experience

J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Workshop

8:00am–3:00pm • $75/$85 • Lunch is included
This workshop has a max capacity

The goal of this full-day workshop is to inspire NIRSA student members to continue learning about NIRSA and the collegiate recreation profession as well as to enhance their self-awareness through motivational interactions with their peers and professionals. During this workshop, attendees can expect to explore various leadership topics and the values of the Association as well as how to build a strong network within the field.

About J. Michael Dunn

Mike passionately believed in developing, mentoring, and coaching students—this was one of his core beliefs and a significant part of his personal and professional philosophy. He believed in investing in the future generations of NIRSA leaders and so humbly dedicated his life to helping students grow and learn both personally and professionally. Mike was a co-creator of the Student Professional Development program. This program demonstrates his ability to continue touching the lives of students, motivating them to become the next generation of NIRSA leaders.

Learning Outcomes

Be able to explain the history of NIRSA.
Identify future NIRSA involvement opportunities that will support the development of their skills and career paths.
Be able to incorporate NIRSA values into their daily professional lives.

A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth Workshop

9:00am–3:00pm • There will be a 2-hour break for lunch, lunch will be on your own

This workshop does not have a fee due to generous sponsorship by the NIRSA Foundation. There is a maximum capacity of 100 attendees for this workshop. Registration is first-come first-served.

This is an anti-racism activation experience designed to expose you to a level of truth about the duration, violence, and intentionality of the systems of oppression that have existed since the inception of the United States. This activation experience is interactive, utilizing breakout rooms, role playing and open, honest, participant-encouraged discussion designed to explore and give voice to the uncomfortable truth of our shared history. It is an ongoing conversation which serves as a catalyst for creating a culture of individual change agents and collective anti-racism activism. Learn more about A Long Talk by visiting their website.

Campus Recreation Wellbeing Research Collaborative

8:00am–3:00pm • Lunch is included
Registration is invite-only

This invite-only session will bring together a group of campus recreation professionals who have been active in researching, assessing, and/or measuring wellbeing work via a campus recreation lens. Our goal is to evaluate the landscape of what is currently being done, synthesize what might be replicable across multiple institutions, identify research gaps that need to be filled, and brainstorm about next steps. This meeting is an initial step in what we hope to be an ongoing conversation; however, we also anticipate identifying some concrete action items that will ultimately better position us to tell the story of campus recreation’s critical role in campus wellbeing.