NIRSA Student Staff Development Task Force

Last Updated:  January 2023

Description

The NIRSA Student Staff Development Task Force supports campus recreation professionals who manage student employees. As one of the largest employers on college campuses, recreation departments shoulder an important role in the growth and development of students employed within their departments, and the Task Force develops resources and learning opportunities for students and their professional supervisors who are involved in this work on their campuses.

Task Force Composition

The Task Force is composed of 12 members, with overlapping 2-year terms. 2 of the 12 members (who have already completed their first year as a member) serve as co-chairs. At the beginning of each term, the task force creates working groups to complete different projects, created and agreed upon by the full task force.

Task Force Member Responsibilities

• Identify shortcomings and areas of growth related to student development for the association and institutions of all sizes and demographics
• Create resources for members of NIRSA to assist with implementation of student development initiatives and programs
• Foster a sense of community for professionals interested in growing their student development skills through regular virtual programming
• Represent the Task Force through hosting NIRSA Pre-Conference workshop or an educational session at regional/annual conference for a deep dive into student development theory and concepts
• Create written, virtual and in-person resources for members
• Commit to 1 hour monthly group meeting plus 1-2 hours for small-group meetings = ~3 hours total time needed per month to participate meaningfully

Task Force Co-Chair Responsibilities

Supervise progress of Task Force work and set strategic direction. Chairs liaise between members working on deliverables and the NIRSA HQ staff to ensure on-time delivery and clarity on deliverables.

Past Task Force Projects & Accomplishments

• Facilitated Ideas in Motion sessions 

• Student Staff Development Resources Focus Group, 11/2/20
• Take It or Leave It: Lessons learned about student employment during COVID, 6/30/21
• Incorporating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Student Staff Hiring, 7/28/21

• Created and executed a three-day workshop series ​​in September 2020, “How to Train Your Student Staff: In-person, Online, and In-Between”
• Developed competencies for student employees and supervisors of student employees
• Authored NIRSA Publication - Campus Rec Essentials: Student Staff Development, published in early 2022
• Facilitated half-day pre-conference workshop at NIRSA Annual 2022
• Hosted monthly roundtables

• Equitable Hiring Practices for Student Employment - Equitable Hiring Practices for Student Employment 10/5/22
• Connecting On-Campus Employment to Academic and Career Success hosted by the Student Staff Development Task Force - Connecting On-Campus Employment to Academic and Career Success 11/9/22