Member expertise and commitment greatly contributes to the advancement of Association goals through leadership activities. Appointment or election to a leadership position within NIRSA is an honor and a privilege. With a position comes responsibility to fulfill duties and obligations in the highest professional manner, while upholding the mission, vision, goals, objectives, and ideals of the Association. Serving in a leadership position provides members with an opportunity to further develop professional skills and network with colleagues across the country.
Applications are required to be considered for NIRSA leadership roles. Due dates vary and are typically between October - January, except for the Assembly which is due in the spring. Below is a table of Leadership Opportunities, including positions available, experience needed and approximate timeline for applying. To learn more, scroll down to the overview of each opportunity, which includes a link for more information.
"Strategically driving and positioning the Association"
The Board of Directors' role is to function as the visionary leadership group that strategically positions and drives the Association. The Board is responsible for strategic planning, exercising fiduciary and legal responsibilities, establishing policy, and serving as sole shareholder of NIRSA Services Corporation.
It is a seven person Board comprised of three officers in the Presidential Track positions (President, President Designee, and President Elect), three At-Large Directors, and a Board-elected Annual Director. The Presidential Track and At-Large Director positions serve a three year term. Recruitment and applications for these positions occurs in the fall. Learn more about serving on the NIRSA Board of Directors and the application process here.
"Facilitating communication, engagement, and growth of the Membership"
The Member Network expands and enhances the strong regional network of NIRSA and creates numerous opportunities for member involvement and leadership development. The Member Network's focus is on outreach, engagement, advocacy, local constituent communication, nurturing and developing Members regionally, networking, grassroots growth of the field, overseeing the State/Provincial Directors and Student Leaders, and facilitating regional education opportunities.
For each region there is one Regional Representative and one Regional Student Leader. There is also a National Student Leader position. Recruitment and applications for these positions occurs in the fall. For a full list of Member Network positions, descriptions, and application process, click here.
"Thinking for the future"
The Assembly is a new element of NIRSA. This forward-thinking group serves as a think tank for the collegiate recreation profession. The Assembly is an important mechanism for germinating ideas, developing leaders, and sharing knowledge; member engagement in the assembly is meaningful and important to the growth and development of the field of collegiate recreation.
Click here for detailed description of the Assembly composition. The Assembly term runs from July 1 to June 30, with applications typically due late April.
"Supporting the future of recreation sports"
The NIRSA Foundation is a charitable organization that supports the mission of NIRSA. Through fundraising and stewardship efforts, it works to enhance the effectiveness of collegiate recreational sports by providing members meaningful opportunities for scholarship, research, and personal and professional development. It publishes the biannual Recreational Sports Journal, administers several scholarship programs and supports other programs consistent with their mission.
A nine member board governs the NIRSA Foundation, which includes the designated representative from the NIRSA Board of Directors and NIRSA Executive Director. Board members serve a three year term. Read more about the NIRSA Foundation here. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2012.
"Supporting the Vision and Mission of NIRSA through enterprise"
The NIRSA Services Corporation (NSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NIRSA, was formed in 1999 to develop, guide, and implement marketing opportunities through collegiate recreation.
NSC builds custom marketing opportunities for forward looking companies to tap into the passion and authenticity of the student athlete in the recreation center.
NSC also offers the National Campus Championship Series, regional and national tournaments for sport club and intramural athletes. Read about serving on the NIRSA Services Corporation Board here. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2012.
"Providing oversight and stewardship of the Professional Registry"
The Collegiate Recreational Sports Professional Registry Commission (Commission) is the governing body for the Registry of Collegiate Recreational Sports Professionals (Registry). The Commission sets and reviews policies for application, renewal and appeals. It periodically reviews the criteria for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and values for Professional
Involvement Credits (PICs), and insures the Collegiate Recreational Sports core competencies are keeping pace with the evolution of professional practice. Through these efforts, the Commission works to insure the Registry program will continue to provide a useful and relevant framework for guiding the career-long professional development of Registry members.
The Commission consists of five members as follows: three NIRSA professional members; one faculty member in recreation or an allied field, and one Partner Organization member. Commissioners serve three-year terms from July 1 thru June 30. Read more about the qualifications for serving on the Professional Registry Commission here.
The Commission is currently accepting applications for two positions - At Large NIRSA member and Partner Organization member. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.
"Serving at the heart of our member-driven Association"
Each State and Province has a Director and Student Leader. These positions are key to maintaining NIRSA's focus as a member-driven association as they are a vital link between NIRSA members, the Member Network and other leadership groups.
They communicate with members via newsletters, state workshops and meetings, and support membership recruitment and retention. They are appointed or elected for office by NIRSA members, the timeline and process for elections varies by State/Province.
For information about these positions, contact the Member Network representative for your region. To see a list of current State/Provincial Directors, click here; the list of State/Provincial Student Leaders is sorted by Region and can be found here.
"The only campus non-varsity sports series of its kind"
All NIRSA extramural events and Sport Club Championships, including Flag Football, Soccer, Tennis, and Basketball, are under the umbrella of NCCS.
The NCCS events support fostering student development, commitment to the larger learning community, and emphasize leadership and excellence.
The chairs oversee the NCCS work teams, including assessment of championships, standards of competition, student/professional development and brand management, which set the standards for all NCCS events. A chair must commit to serving a three year term of office (2nd Vice Chair, 1st Vice Chair, Chair). Self-Nomination forms are due January 17, 2012. Learn more about the NCCS Work Teams here.
"The RSJ is the premier scholarly journal for the profession of collegiate recreation"
The Recreational Sports Journal (RSJ) is the scholarly publication of the NIRSA Foundation. Its purpose is to provide a source of empirical, theoretical, and applied research to the field of recreational sports.
The RSJ Editorial Board has 18 NIRSA members, serving staggered three-year terms, who review articles as assigned by the editor. Editorial Board terms begin in May. Click here to read more about the RSJ. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2012.
NIRSA's premier opportunity for professional development in the field of recreational sports
The interactive National School of Recreational Sports Management provides a broad range of material designed to enhance a new professional's management and problem-solving skills.
Experienced recreational sports faculty members develop the course curriculum, design the program schedule, and lead sessions that provide participants with opportunities to practice, discuss, and refine the professional skills necessary for success. Read more about the National School of Recreation Sports Management here.
The application to serve as a Faculty Member is available now. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2012.
"The NIRSA Annual Conference is the leading education and networking event for collegiate recreational sports professionals, students and vendors"
The Program Committee Chair is critical to a successful Annual Conference as this person provides leadership to the Program Committee.
The Chair coordinates the planning of all education sessions and works with the local Annual Conference Host Committee, NIRSA Board of Directors, NIRSA staff, and other stakeholder groups involved in the Annual Conference program. This is a three-year position, consisting of a year each as chair-elect, chair, and consultant. Learn more about the current Annual Conference Program Committee here.
"Share your knowledge of a specific topic by serving on a committee or work team"
Committees and work teams do focused work on a particular objective to advance the Association and the profession. Serving on one of the NIRSA, NIRSA Foundation or NCCS Committees or Work Teams is a great way to give back to the Association, gain fluency in a particular topic, and network with other colleagues, click here to see a full list. Terms run for one year and begin after the Annual Conference.
If you would like to serve on a NIRSA, NIRSA Foundation or NCCS committee or work team as a member or chair, please complete and submit your Committee Preference Form by January 17, 2012. Click here to learn more about the appointment process.
