News

NIRSA to establish Professional Registry

NIRSA Board of Directors approves recommendations of Professional Registry Work Team

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 during their midyear meeting 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.

The Board acknowledged the following expectations:

1. Implementation will occur as soon as a Professional Registry infrastructure is completed and in place.
2. Design of the Professional Registry infrastructure will be based upon recommendations and guidelines included in the Professional Registry-Phase II Report prepared by consultant Dr. Cheryl Wild with input from the Professional Registry Work Team.
3. 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.
4. Membership on the Professional Registry Work Team may be expanded as needed to assist in developing the registry infrastructure.
5. The Professional Registry Work Team and will periodically provide progress reports to the NIRSA Board of Directors.

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, and specifically:

1. Evaluate the adequacy of the six NIRSA knowledge areas 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).
2. Coordinate with the NIRSA Curriculum Work Team regarding their plans to validate core competencies for entry-level professionals within collegiate recreational sports.
3. Fund the research project through an Initiatives Reserve authorization.

NIRSA Professional Registry Work Team
Dennis Corrington, Texas A&M University (Chair)
Barbara Aiken, University of Maryland
Stan Campbell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Charles Espinosa, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Jennifer Puhl Winkler, Austin Peay State University
Robert Barcelona, University of New Hampshire
John Campbell, University of California, Davis