Find out what’s new with wellbeing at NIRSA’s Annual Conference

The Wellbeing Briefing Work Group reached out to a few of the upcoming presenters at this year’s NIRSA Annual Conference to learn more about the current trends and topics in health and wellbeing. We want to share a few short previews of sessions to hopefully get you thinking about new ideas for use on your own campus.

This brief overview is not an exhaustive list. You can explore the full program of sessions on the NIRSA 2023 website and even search for keywords. But we hope it’s enough to motivate you to seek out opportunities to learn more about this ever-evolving field. There is plenty more to be found.

Not heading to Pittsburgh? Explore these highlights—and the full conference program—for further inspiration about areas of wellbeing and find new topics for conversation with your students and staff.

Session highlights

“College Student Wellbeing: Using Websites as a Strategy for Campus-Wide Education and Support Efforts“

Jason T. Miller, EdD and his team at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a university-branded website in an effort to engage in collaborative work that educates, empowers, and supports the health and wellness needs of students. Results of their study show that students increased their knowledge and awareness of wellbeing and felt motivated to take positive actions towards supporting their own wellbeing efforts. During his presentation session, Dr. Miller will discuss findings around social identity differences and recognition of the thrive.pitt.edu resource across campus.

Presenter: Jason Miller, Associate Director, Wellness and Recreation Programs, University of Pittsburgh

“Staying Relevant in Fitness and Wellness“

This session will review key articles and industry lists related to fitness and wellness trends. The presenters will discuss “hot topics” and compare them to the offerings we may be considering for our own collegiate facilities and programs. Does your program embrace new trends quickly, or do you prefer to delay until first observing others? Learn how schools may be implementing new ideas, classes, programs, and services related to fitness and wellness, beyond industry standards. Finally, attendees will self-assess their own facilities and programs to explore relevance and predict success of new offerings among their own student population.

Presenters: Stephanne Musser, Assistant Director for Fitness at The Ohio State University, Alice Ryan, Assistant Director – Strategy & Organizational Effectiveness at The Ohio State University, and Aliyah Valdez, Fitness and Wellness Coordinator at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

“Building a Sense of Belonging through Campus Recreation”

Members of the NIRSA Health and Wellbeing Task Force will lead a discussion to explore and implement ways to be intentional in cultivating social connectedness across all facets of your facilities, programs, services, and staffing. Attendees will participate in activities and discussions to share best practices, goals, and action items for growth, while being mindful of individual and group observations. The session will utilize real-time feedback to share ideas and experiences from a personal and professional perspective. Presenters and facilitators of this session will also provide a brief history, current charges, and future goals of the Task Force.

Presenters and Collaborators: A’Naja Newsome, Lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida, Chris Denison, Director, Recreation Services at the University of Northern Iowa, Kevin George, Director of Campus Recreation at Rowan University, Leah Bank, Senior Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness at California State University, Bakersfield, Marc Iturriaga, Executive Director at Mohawk College, Marci Iverson, Assistant Dean of Student Wellbeing at Viterbo University, and Marti Tomlin, Director- University Recreation at the University of Richmond

“You Belong Here!”

Marc Iturriaga has focused on utilizing a Belonging Framework over the last several years to help campus recreation practitioners who are looking to intentionally embed belonging as an outcome in the programs and services they deliver. This session will help 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. Learn about the three pillars of belonging—invited, welcomed, and included—and how to apply the framework in a variety of areas.

INVITED – The way people are informed about and asked to join your programs, spaces, and opportunities that motivates, inspires, and leads them to show up.

WELCOMED – The cultures, behaviors, and understanding participants experience or observe when they arrive or begin participating that makes them feel comfortable, important, and accepted.

INCLUDED – The way people are motivated and inspired to be lifelong participants and/or co-creators of their experience that leads them to participate as their authentic selves.

Presenter: Marc Iturriaga, Mohawk Students’ Association (MSA) Executive Director, Mohawk College

“Campus Recreation and the Okanagan Charter Roundtable”

If your campus has adopted the Okanagan Charter, is in discussion about doing so, or you simply find yourself interested in learning more, we welcome you to join the conversation. This roundtable provides a unique opportunity for campus recreation practitioners to have a space to discuss Okanagan Charter adoption and the related US Health Promotion Network.

This session will allow participants to discuss questions from and approaches at their individual schools around the Okanagan Charter while centering its aspirations to “enhance the success of their institutions; create campus cultures of compassion, well-being, equity and social justice; improve the health of the people who live, learn, work, play and love on our campuses; and strengthen the ecological, social and economic sustainability of our communities and wider society.”

Facilitators: Kathleen Hatch, Morrison Family Associate Vice President for Student Well-being, Kansas State University; Marti Tomlin, Director of University Recreation, University of Richmond

Mainstage speaker highlights

“The Power of Human Connection: How Leaders Can Build Belonging in a Disconnected Workplace”

Do you feel like you belong in your workplace? What key factors create a sense of belonging for you, staff, and students? Smiley Poswolsky will share practical workplace rituals and tools you can use to foster psychological safety on your team and to reimagine a collaborative, inclusive, purpose-driven culture that ushers in The Great Reconnection.

“Resilience: Being Smart Enough to Start, Dumb Enough Not to Quit”

Jeffrey Binney will focus on achieving success through accomplishing difficult tasks in life—think ultrarunning! His personal experience in achieving physical feats relates back to campus recreation’s overarching goals of fitness and wellness. This speaker will help you celebrate what it takes to excel and remind us that we all hold the power to be resilient.

“Embracing Burnout:  A More Resilient Approach for Mental Health”

Dr. Kate Steiner will focus on the importance of integrating work, school, and life to promote personalized sustainability and wellness. Rather than finding balance, this presentation will encourage the creation of a plan that allows students and professionals to observe their wellness, prepare for burnout events, and recover in a personal way. Embrace burnout, become more resourceful, and live happier and healthier.

Expo highlights

The NIRSA Campus Rec & Wellness Expo is a can’t-miss part of the NIRSA 2023 experience! Featuring more than 110 exhibitors showcasing innovative solutions for campuses, the Campus Rec & Wellness Expo also provides numerous opportunities for networking and play. It’s the best place for NIRSA 2023 attendees seeking inspiration for their facilities, programs, and operations.

In addition to the amazing exhibitors and the fun planned events, there will be a robust Fitness Forum, presented by Life Fitness. Check out the exciting lineup of classes happening in Pittsburgh.

See you in Pittsburgh

Thriving campus recreation departments know that continuous skill development and idea sharing are essential to a team’s ability to pivot, leverage opportunities, and overcome challenges. With leading professionals from the collegiate recreation field, with the biggest and best companies who support your work, and the unrivaled networking, the NIRSA Annual Conference experience will allow you to not only develop existing relationships, but also foster new connections with other campus recreation and wellbeing colleagues.

We hope to see you in Pittsburgh, March 23-26!