With sadness, NIRSA shares that Sam Hirt—recipient of the NIRSA Honor Award and Past President of our Association—passed away on August 10, at the age of 82. Sam joined the Association in 1964 and ultimately demonstrated his commitment to NIRSA by becoming a lifetime member. On Labor Day of 1963 he started a 50-year tenure with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where he served as the director of campus recreation for 40 years. Upon announcing his retirement in 2013, the university newspaper quipped, “In short, Hirt was Campus Recreation before there was even such a thing.”

A career-long Vandy man

Sam was born August 28, 1940, in Salem, Ohio, and grew up in the small town of East Palestine, in northeastern Ohio, where he would go on to graduate high school in 1958. By 1962, Sam had earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Marietta College in Ohio, where he also played four years of basketball. Coaches will often say the best ability is availability. Sam’s reliability on the court at MC would foreshadow a full career, where many teammates could count on him to show up and work hard for the team. He started every game from 1958-1962 and Marietta College inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

After earning his B.A. from Marietta College, he completed a master’s degree in physical education in 1963 and in 1969 he earned a Ed. S. degree in health, physical education, and recreation, both at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville. The George Peabody College for Teachers would not be absorbed by Vanderbilt University until 1979, but Sam would start his golden jubilee career with Vanderbilt in the fall of 1963, after completing his master’s degree.

In 2013, as Sam approached retirement, the campus newspaper Vanderbilt University News published two retrospective articles looking back at Sam’s legacy at Vanderbilt.

From the articles or if you’ve ever talked to anyone who knew him, it’s clear that Sam transformed the landscape of campus recreation and student wellbeing at Vanderbilt and beyond. Over the years, Sam was involved in the planning of every Vanderbilt campus recreation expansion south of Memorial Gym. He founded the sport club program at Vanderbilt in the early 1970s and was a pioneer in opening access to facilities and equipment for women’s intramural and club teams, pre-Title IX. He created one of the first-of-its-kind campus recreation offices in 1973 and was critical in the building the nationally recognized Student Recreation Center at Vanderbilt that opened 136,000-sq-ft of recreation space to VU students in 1990 and had the significant 170,000-sq-ft addition completed just a few months after Sam retired.

Through it all, Sam was motivated by and focused on the students: “I have always dreamed of getting more for the students. The primary reason we’re here is the students,” he shared with the reporter. Sam had a profound ability to simplify complex truths and was able to articulate what our practice and purpose in campus recreation is all about: “The students are my love,” he says. “I begin and end with the students. They’re the only reason I’m here.”

A model servant leader

During his membership in NIRSA, he served in many volunteer roles. He served as President from 1998-1999 and he was among the speakers during the dedication of NIRSA Headquarters. In 2004, when he was decorated with the NIRSA Honor Award—the highest distinction conferred by the Association—one of the nominators suggested, “To name every contribution Sam has provided to you and me, it would take several sheets of wallpaper to cover our esteemed colleague’s career and credentials.”

While Sam’s impact on NIRSA has been extraordinary, two of his ideas will live prominently in his legacy with our Association. He instituted the “Make a Child Smile” program, forerunner to the NIRSA Annual Conference Community Service Project, and he is the architect behind “NIRSA Recreational Sports and Fitness Day,” celebrated each year on February 22 to honor the contributions of NIRSA’s Founders, and to call national attention to the benefits of recreational sports.

Here are just a few more of his contributions and his achievements in NIRSA. He received the Region II Award of Merit in 1993 and two NIRSA Service Awards in 1994. He was a member of NIRSA for almost 60 years, joining in 1964 when it was then known as the National Intramural Association (NIA). During those years, he served three terms as Tennessee State Director and as Vice President of Region II (1992-94). He served on, or Chaired these committees: Affirmative Action, Facilities, Standards, Sport Clubs, Membership, Screening Committee for the NIRSA Executive Director, and the ad hoc 2000 Conference Program in 1998-99. The Sport Clubs Manual and the General and Specialty Standards Manual both evolved from his input and expertise. He presented consistently at national, regional, and state conferences, and he published numerous articles in the NIRSA Proceedings on facilities and sport clubs.

Sam implemented, hosted, or cohosted several state workshops, and two Annual Conferences (1983 and 1994). He was a 1991 graduate of the NIRSA Membership Recruitment Bronze Club. He has also served on first Board of Directors for the NIRSA Services Corporation. He was a devout Christian with a servant’s heart and one of the founders of the Recreational Sports Christian Fellowship Association that would meet annually at NIRSA conferences for faith-based gathering time. He served on the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors; he’s a Charter Member of the NIRSA Foundation and a platinum-level supporter. He is named among the Legacy Contributors to NIRSA.

He was part of the NIRSA Governance Commission serving with Past NIRSA Presidents Tony Clements, Mick Deluca, Kathleen Hatch, and Moe McGonagle, and members George Brown and Tom Dison. Even in retirement, he still had time to serve as the official historian of the Tennessee State Association (TIRSA).

Sam was famous for sending NIRSA colleagues handwritten notes of encouragement and kudos long after email came into vogue and many members continue to treasure those moments for their words of wit and wisdom that seemingly always arrived at the perfectly timed moment.

Here are just a few of testimonials from some of Sam’s colleagues:

“Sam was a man of integrity, faith, family, and service. He served his community, Vanderbilt University, and NIRSA with honor, commitment, and dedication. His quick wit, warm smile, and caring manner will be what I remember most. He also had a wicked set shot in basketball! Sam was the consummate professional and a leader in collegiate recreation!” – Stan Shingles, Assistant Vice President at Central Michigan University, Past President of NIRSA, and 2019 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“Sam and Melanie have been a great support to me over the years, and I have been blessed by their friendship, support, encouragement, and prayers. When I first joined NIRSA, there was a Recreational Sports Christian Fellowship Association with people who would support each other throughout the year and make time for a faith-based time of gathering at the NIRSA Annual Conference. Sam was one of the founders of that group, and I joined the group’s leadership to help keep the community growing.

Sam was a man of few words, but when he spoke it was always profound. He was all about supporting people and growing-up each generation. He was a people-person, and you could always count on him for a smile. I loved watching him and Melanie together, and how they played off each other. And of course, I will miss the stories. He will be missed beyond words.” – Stefani Plummer, Business Operations Manager at Arizona State University

“Sam was a kind, thoughtful, graceful, generous, and inclusive leader. He defined servant leadership. He was the first to congratulate you, acknowledge an accomplishment, or reach out to connect. He was always in a cheerful mood.

Sam was one of the first NIRSA leaders connect with me and to ‘nudge’ me to consider standing for the NIRSA Board and he was one of the first to call and congratulate me when I was elected.” – Bill Crockett, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs at University of Maryland, Baltimore, and Past President of NIRSA

“Sam was a completely authentic leader who loved his profession, his students, his institution, and the programs and facilities that he helped create at Vanderbilt.  He was a quiet, unassuming, selfless, and totally committed professional; never too busy to help another or support a colleague.  His genuine love for his family was palpable; his support for NIRSA unwavering.  Never flashy but always in your corner…a dependable resource, a soldier for the organization, and champion of students.  A gentleman and a gentle man.” – Jan Gong, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of California-Davis, Past President of NIRSA, and 1997 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“Sam and Melanie were angels in my life. They took me under their wings when I was stepping into a leadership role and facing a battle with cancer, a battle they knew personally.” – Pat Besner, retired from the University of Toledo, Past President of NIRSA, and 2005 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“To me, Sam is Mr. NIRSA. He and his wife were two of the kindest people I have ever met. My first NIRSA Annual Conference experience was in Nashville, TN in 1994. As a student at Appalachian State, we took a van load of students to that conference and as we pulled up and unloaded on the sidewalk, Sam was there to welcome us. He was literally the first person I met at my first NIRSA conference.

When I took the job here at Austin Peay, my first day at work there was a piece of mail on my desk waiting for me…it was a card from Sam welcoming me to Tennessee with words of encouragement and support as I started my new role as a new director. He not only displayed his kind spirts in NIRSA but also with the Nashville community. Everyone who knew him always said the same kind and positive things about him. Sam will be missed by all his NIRSA friends, but he left us all with great memories.” – David Davenport, Director of University Recreation at Austin Peay State University and Past President of NIRSA

“Sam Hirt was an amazing man who epitomized servant leadership. He lived his principles and demonstrated true integrity and kindness. I’ll never forget his kind eyes and wonderful smile. He made the world a better place just by being here.

His goodness and thoughtfulness were matched by a great sense of humor. He loved to laugh and was never afraid to laugh at himself. Sam will be missed by all who met him.”  – Sarah Hardin, Faculty, Sport & Recreation Management at the University of Iowa

“Mr. Hirt’s expertise was instrumental in helping campus recreation and NIRSA grow to new heights. Serving Vanderbilt University for over 50 years, he is a cornerstone of the institution.  At some point, I realized Sam would be impactful in my career and life. People can usually run their lives okay when things are going well, but when I needed advice, I contacted Mr. Hirt for his perspective and wisdom. Save a racquetball game for us in heaven.”  – Calvin Diggs, Director of Campus Recreation & Sports Facilities at St. Cloud State University

“I was introduced to Sam during my term of service as a National Student Representative in the late 1980s and we became lifelong friends rather quickly. He mentored me and encouraged my service to NIRSA. I was the Region III Vice President when Sam was President. As my career advanced and took me away from my direct role in campus recreation, Sam and I stayed in touch and our friendship grew. When I was hired as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Sam was the first person I called to share the news. When my father passed, Sam was there to help me work through my grief. We talked frequently, and he was the master of a handwritten note to offer support, assistance, or be the cheerleader. The world was better because of Sam.

Sam will be remembered as a gentleman, a consummate professional, a man of faith, and a friend to many. His patience and calm demeanor were only overshadowed by his quick wit and sense of humor.” – Lori Lynn Stettler, retired from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

“Sam is one of the gentlest souls I’ve ever encountered.  He was so supportive to all of us [Past Presidents of NIRSA] as we navigated our time on the Board. I know this happened to others too, but he pulled me aside at the Annual Business Meeting right before I gave my president elect speech and provided a prayer of support, encouragement, and success in the process. It’s a moment that has stayed with me to this day…There’s a gathering of Past President’s in Heaven today that will welcome with open hearts our dear friend Sam.” – Greg Jordan, Director of University Recreation and Well-Being at Oakland University, Past President of NIRSA, and 2017 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“Of anyone I have known, Sam was the most genuine and kind person to everyone that he met. He was certainly a consummate professional. But he made everyone else around him a better person also. I will truly miss him.” – John Meyer, retired from University of Colorado at Boulder, Past President of NIRSA, and 2006 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“A truly warm and caring human being; he was so supportive of others and a terrific leader by example! Such a wonderful role model.”- Gene Lamke, Professor Emeritus at San Diego State University, Past President of NIRSA, and 1989 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“Sam made everyone surrounding him a better person with his positive energy. He will be remembered as a great leader and mentor, and for his relentless advocacy for student development. Sam is one of NIRSA’s legendary leaders.” – Paul Kuan Lee, Director of Recreational sports at University of California, Santa Barbara

“Sam was one of the kindest, most graceful people that I have had the pleasure to know. He was inclusive long before that term came into our student affairs jargon; he treated everyone with a welcoming smile, kindness, and respect. Sam was a one-of-a-kind human, who lived by his faith and personal values. Even his patented (and deadly accurate) set shot transcended time, as he played basketball well into his sixties. Sam is a treasure who will live on in the memories of so many of us.” – Eric Nickel, Director of University Recreation at James Madison University and 2020 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“We all have close colleagues and mentors who we lean on during our careers. For me, Sam was a pillar of leadership both at Vanderbilt and in NIRSA even though he was not someone who I knew very well or had the opportunity to work closely with. I was fortunate to participate in a tour Sam facilitated of the new recreation center at Vanderbilt in the mid-1990s. I recall being impressed by the detailed, thoughtful decision making that took place for every aspect of the building; and by his thriftiness, since he showed off a recent bulk purchase of bleach that he made when the cost was really low.

Sam would occasionally send me notes of support, many of which made their way into my First Aid file (name courtesy of Robyn Deterding), where I retain notes from colleagues and staff. Even though I was not close to Sam, he would send messages of support. The first letter was sent in response to the first article I co-wrote and was published in the NIRSA Journal in 1997, which was a very controversial topic, so I really appreciated the positive support. Sam also wrote to thank me for my contributions to the Governance Transition Team in 2009. Then he wrote a thoughtful memo when I became a Director of Campus Recreation at UNH in 2012. How Sam kept up with our professional milestones, I will not know. I greatly appreciate his thoughtfulness and support over the years.” – Stacey L. Hall, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Provost for Student Life, University of New Hampshire, Past President of NIRSA, and 2021 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

“Sam was one of the great gentlemen of NIRSA and one of the kindest people I know. I recall while serving on the NIRSA Board, Sam would periodically send me notes of encouragement and support, seemingly when I needed it the most. And I always looked forward to spending time with him each year at the conference. The world is a little less today with Sam’s passing.” – Tom Kirch, retired from Oregon State University, Past President of NIRSA, and 2013 NIRSA Honor Award recipient

Sam is survived by his wife of 62 years, Melanie Hirt—who is a longtime NIRSA supporter in her own right—and his three children Betsy, Shawn, and Brett. Sam had five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Memorial services

Memorial service details will be shared with NIRSA members as they become available. Individuals who would like to share condolences with Melanie and Sam’s family can send emails to [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse or In Touch Ministries of Atlanta, GA.

Open and free to all colleges and universities, #HEALTHYCAMPUSWEEK2023 is happening September 18–22 and will again feature the Largest Physical Activity Challenge on Wednesday, September 20. The Largest Physical Activity Challenge will be co-hosted by the Healthier Campus Initiative and Swipe Out Hunger, with Columbia Sportswear serving as the sponsor and providing prizes of hats, backpacks, and fanny packs to the winner!

Congratulations to Penn State University, winner of the 2022 Largest Physical Activity Challenge!

See the schedule and learn how to participate

Physical activity challenges, farmers markets, food bank or food pantry initiatives, and eating fruits and veggies in school colors are all great ways to welcome students back to campus in a mindful way during Healthy Campus Week 2023.

While participating schools are encouraged to be flexible with the dates and themes happening on their campus September 18 through September 22, here is a suggested outline for activities:

Monday, September 18

Share a video about your campus’s farmers market or sustainability initiatives. Check out this example from Oakwood University in 2022:

Tuesday, September 19

Raise awareness about food insecurity and what resources are available to members of your campus community to make food security more accessible. Highlight the food pantries or food banks that are available to your students, faculty, or staff.

Wednesday, September 20

Host a physical activity challenge and enter your initiative into the Largest Physical Activity Challenge contest for 2023. Check out the official rules for entering and invite your students to participate for their chance to win hats, backpacks, or fanny packs from Columbia Sportswear. Be sure to tag our partners in the photos and videos you share on social media: @healthiercampus, @swipeouthunger, and @columbia1938.

Thursday, September 21

Student success hinges on a student’s ability to implement healthy practices, coping mechanisms, and self-care in times of need. Host an activity or initiative dedicated to promoting mindfulness or mental health either on your campus or virtually.

Last year, Cheyney University Junior Shadia Tinsley Jones shared four suggestions for managing stress:

Temple University used visual cues to promote mindful swimming:

Friday, September 22

Share photos of students and staff members eating fruits and vegetables while wearing school, sorority, or fraternity colors.

Get creative and plan as many or as few activities as you’d like! Remember to tag our partners in the photos and videos you share on social media: @healthiercampus, @swipeouthunger, and @columbia1938.

Why your campus should participate

Colleges and universities are doing an exceptional job at supporting overall student wellbeing. However, there is still important work that needs to be done.

• 33% of college students reported eating somewhat more since the pandemic and 52% have engaged in low physical activity, according to a recent article in Nutrition and Health
• 44% of students reported symptoms of depression and 15% of students said they were considering suicide, according to a recent NEA Today article
• 56% of first-generation students identified as food insecure, according to Report: Hunger On Campus

Product Manager for Outdoor Fitness & Freestanding Play at GameTime, Jon Walker recently reminded NIRSA members that a lack of physical exercise worsens preexisting mental health conditions. Healthy Campus Week gives students, faculty, and staff a fun platform to continue to drive home the message that everyone on their campus is committed to wellbeing and student success; it’s a great way to engage students with fun activities while also educating them about wellbeing.

Healthy Campus Week 2023 partners

Healthier Campus Initiative has continued its commitment to college wellbeing with a particular focus on identifying resources necessary to addressing health disparities. Some members may remember that, on behalf of the Healthier Campus Initiative, I presented with Dr. Daniel Hatfield at the 2019 NIRSA Annual Conference in Boston. Dr. Hatfield is an applied community and behavioral interventionist working with ChildObesity180 at Tufts University. Part of our evaluation work was to determine what physical activity resources are needed to support the needs of a diverse student body. Healthy Campus Week 2023 is an initiative to further those efforts.

Also, to make inroads in addressing equity, Swipe Out Hunger is partnering with Healthier Campus Initiative to support students facing hardship by focusing on food and housing insecurity by co-hosting #HEALTHYCAMPUSWEEK2023.

Nestled about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania owns the distinction of having the longest history out of all historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. The school has been renamed five times during its 186-year history since it was first founded in 1837 as The African Institute by the Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys.

But a long and storied history doesn’t mean that it’s always smooth sailing for the administrators and staff members who are serving the current generation of CU students and helping them develop the character, intellect, and talent required to succeed in today’s world.

In 2018, President of Cheyney University Aaron A. Walton made the commitment to join the Healthier Campus Initiative and to provide additional resources for pursuing the 41 evidence-based guidelines developed for improving menus, exercise options, and resources for food security.

But like many institutions of higher learning—and too many small schools and HBCUs—Cheyney’s momentum was starkly challenged by the pandemic. As COVID-19 restrictions have gradually eased, and schools across the country move towards a new normal in the wake of a global pandemic, I’ve been working closely with many campuses to regain that pre-pandemic momentum and to support champions for student wellbeing.

One of my favorite collaborations, by far, has been working with Success Coach for Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s Academic Affairs Tracey Smith and her team of passionate and creative professionals. Tracey has presented at Healthier Campus Initiative conferences and is actively reaching out to share Cheyney’s successes even in the face of limited funding.

Creativity doesn’t cost a thing

Cheyney University offers ten major and six minor degrees and is currently home to about 700 undergraduate students. Coming out of the pandemic, university professionals are seeing increasing numbers of students experiencing food insecurities, strained mental health, decreased physical activity, and a reduced sense of overall wellbeing.

“At Cheyney, we are committed to student academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility,” says Tracey. “Our partnership with Continuum Solutions LLC and the Healthier Campus Initiative has been a valuable resource as we work to sustainably keep that commitment.” Over the past year, we’ve collaborated on several creative initiatives to the benefit of CU students, and together we’ve increased the opportunities for CU students to be active and improve their overall wellbeing.

Food insecurity is a real obstacle for many college students on campuses across North America, and Cheyney University students aren’t immune to its chilling specter. “We’ve seen a definite increase in the number of student visits to the food pantry,” says Roslyn Henderson, Director of the Trio Student Services Program at Cheyney University. During #HEALTHYCAMPUSWEEK2022, the Cheyney University Wolf Pantry provided fresh produce for the campus’ traveling produce wagon. Additional nutritional activities and support were provided by CU’s dietary services.

For the second year, Cheyney University success coaches Katrina Banks, Laura Vargus, and Tracey Smith have raised awareness for and provided activities to the campus community about wellbeing by providing a Woosah Day on the quad where students and staff could come and participate in Chakra Balancing, chair massage, meditation, and yoga. We know that recreation programs that emphasize mindfulness and exercise can reduce perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and negative mood.

Physical fitness and activity has also been an area of focus for CU professionals. Pat Walker, the former Cheyney University Intramural and Recreation Programs Director, put the c in creativity by designing the Cheyney Backyard Bowl in collaboration with West Chester University in 2018–2019. The partnership encourages recreational sport participation and social interactions between the two neighboring PASSHE institutions located roughly seven miles apart. Flag football, 3v3 basketball, volleyball, and 5v5 basketball contests have been held, with winners collecting points toward the overall University Champion.

Current Cheyney University Intramural Director Sue Rumer has been continuing this activity since the pandemic concluded. The collaborative partnership gives college recreational sports participants an opportunity to compete, coordinate, officiate, and connect with skilled peers from outside the Cheyney University walls and to take the benefits of recreational competition to a higher level.

The creation of the Howlin Wolves Swimmers is another creative collaboration to come out of Cheyney University this past year: A group of four recreation major and minor students came together for about a month of daily swim practices off campus. The Howlin Wolves Swimmers represented Cheyney University at the first ever HBCU Swim Meet at Morehouse College in Atlanta, competing hard and securing several second-place finishes.

In addition to all those efforts, CU Intramural and Recreation Programs and Healthier Campus teamed up to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Lady Wolves Division I Basketball Team playing in the first-ever D1 Championship title game against Louisiana Tech in March of 1982. Cheyney remains the only HBCU school to play for a DI National Championship; the 1982 Cheyney team was also the first team to make it to the Final Four and a championship game with an all-women coaching staff and it was also the first Black coaching staff at an NCAA Division I finals.

C. Vivian Stringer, who coached that 1982 team, is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and in the spring of 2023 ESPN released a feature special on Coach Stringer and the 1982 championship team.

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and CBS Sports also released a documentary on Coach Vivian Stringer this past year titled Dear Coach Stringer.

The Healthier Campus Initiative’s Largest Physical Challenge and #HEALTHYCAMPUSWEEK encouraged CU professionals to embrace creative activities year around. “Physical activity is so important,” says Tracey. “We got to move it, move it!”

This work is personal for me

While Tracey and her team have been collaborating with me and the Healthier Campus Initiative going back to 2018, Cheyney University has been near and dear to my heart since I was three years old; this work is profoundly personal for me. My grandfather, Coach William O’Shields, was inducted in the Cheyney Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979. He came to campus in 1947 as the first male Health and Physical Education teacher; he was promptly put in charge of the athletics program, where he would eventually coach football, cross country, basketball, and track and field.

In 2005, the Cheyney University football stadium was re-named O’Shields-Stevenson Stadium in honor of my grandfather and fellow Cheyney Athletics’ hall-of-famer James Stevenson. In 2018, administrators had to make difficult decisions about the downsizing of athletics programs at Cheyney, and ultimately football was suspended until the financial situation at Cheyney improves.

It’s been a pleasure to partner with Cheyney University and to witness their incredible work with limited resources. I know my grandfather would be proud.

Earlier this week, the Wellbeing Briefing Work Group of NIRSA’s Health & Wellbeing Task Force shared the latest issue of the Wellbeing Briefing. Take a few minutes this week to invest in and reflect on resources to build a culture of wellbeing on your campus, through the curated articles and other resources shared in the August 2023 issue of the newsletter.

About the Wellbeing Briefing

This quarterly email briefing is aimed at educating, communicating, sharing, and connecting members to new and existing resources in the wellbeing space.

The August 2023 issue highlights several articles, success stories, resources, and some ideas of how to move ideas into action.

Promising Practices

Promising Practices are collaborative or integrated wellbeing initiatives and campus-wide efforts that—driven and realized by the efforts of campus recreation staff and leaders—support the campus community. Explore the newest Promising Practices feature “UR Well: Creating a Culture of Wellbeing” through the video, PDF, and webinar recording.

NIRSA Foundation support

This initiative is supported by the NIRSA Foundation, through the generosity of NIRSA Foundation Mission Advancement Fund donors. The Mission Advancement Fund helps the Association’s philanthropic arm address emerging needs—like the NIRSA COVID-19 relief membership fee waiver and the NIRSA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Climate Study—while continuing to underwrite NIRSA strategic initiatives like scholarly research and health & wellbeing.

Help support initiatives like the Wellbeing Briefing by making a donation to the Mission Advancement Fund today.

In the July/August 2023 issue of Athletic Business Magazine, writer Michael Popke catches up with three NIRSA members to talk about the skills and competencies that will be most beneficial to the next generation of top leaders working in campus recreation.

Korey Lane, Associate Director of Programs within Tulane University’s campus recreation department, Diane Yee, Director of Campus Recreation for Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Chris Schmoldt, Interim Director of the student union at West Virginia University connect with AB Magazine to offer some perspective about how ongoing professional development, like the Aspiring Directors Institute, and credentialing, like the CSAEd, can be good investments for career-oriented professionals working in campus recreation as they look to set themselves apart and prepare for future career opportunities.

Athletic Business is the preferred media partner of NIRSA

Athletic Business has been associate member of NIRSA since 1997. More than 40,000 subscribers turn to the Athletic Business print publication and tens of thousands more turn to the AB website for award-winning editorial content, as well as to view products and services offered by leading companies. Athletic Business is a Preferred Media Partner of the Association.

NIRSA’s Government Affairs Committee stays up-to-date on the latest federal and state policy and legislative news through a variety of scanning tools. One particular resource they use is the bi-weekly Policy Pages provided by Active Policy Solutions. (For more on partnership, along with other SAHEC associations, have with Active Policy Solutions, see below.)

The policy issues included in the Policy Pages document are highlights of a point in time. They are by no means exhaustive and change continually – so matters discussed in the last issue normally will not carry over to the next unless there is some updated action to be discussed.

The Committee encourages NIRSA members to keep themselves informed on federal and state policy issues affecting their work as professionals on campuses. These issues could be specific to higher education, physical activity, or NIRSA’s strategic value areas. If you have an issue that is of concern to your campus, reach out the Government Affairs Committee.

Policy Page documents will be stored, as a resource for NIRSA members, in the NIRSA Connect Community library. You can find them within the “Member Benefits” folder in a subfolder titled “Federal and State Policy Pages.”

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Update

• Annual funding bill for the US Depts. of Labor, HHS, and Education for FY24 (S 2624) passes out of the Senate Appropriations Committee

Federal Education

• College racial disparities and health issues focus of US Secretary of Education’s comments during college visit reports The Champion
• Higher education regulatory agenda updated by the US Department of Education through semiannual regulatory agenda

Federal Legislation

• College student nutrition assistance grant program creation bill (HR 4812/S 2441) introduced
• College legacy and donor admissions preference prohibition bill, “Fair College Admissions for Students Act” (HR 4900/S 2524), introduced
• College physical injury or death incident reporting requirement bill, “College Operational Reporting of Emergencies Involving Teens and Young Adults (COREY) Safety Act” (HR 4903/S 2461), reintroduced and receive news coverage
• Pell Grant flexibility for college students with disabilities bill, “Pell Grant Flexibility Act”, (HR 4931) introduced
• College student loan interest elimination bill, “Student Loan Interest Elimination Act” (HR 4986/S 2557), introduced
• Workforce Pell Grant creating bill, “Promoting Employment and Lifelong Learning (PELL) Act” (HR 496), becomes the subject of discussion within the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee of the House Education and the Workforce Committee
• College foreign intelligence threats protection bills, “Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act” (HR 1146/S 360), text available for Senate version
• College transparency bill, “Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act”, (S 1972) text available
• College institutional finances transparency creating bill, “Endowment Transparency Act” (S 2187), text available

State and Local Government

California

• California community college student housing approval bill signed into law

Maine

• Maine community college childcare services matching funds bill passes the state legislature

Ohio

• Ohio college omnibus bill with DEI provision passes the state senate

Texas

• Texas college residential housing for students in extended foster care requiring bill fails to become law
• Texas college student college costs statement providing requiring bill fails to become law
• Texas college polling places prohibiting bill fails to become law
• Texas college undocumented migrant resident student not eligible for in-state tuition bill fails to become law
• Texas college human papillomavirus plan and prevention program creating bills fail to become law
• Texas college inclusion office ban and intellectual freedom policy requirement bill fails to become law

Vermont

• Vermont colleges guaranteed living space for students requirement bill fails to become law
• Vermont college sexual assault reporting and training bill fails to become law
• Vermont college and school sports by sex assigned at birth bill fails to become law
• Vermont college sexual assault guidelines bill fails to become law

Funding

• College student education outcome improvement funding opportunity available from the US Dept. of Education

Other Updates

• Vaping by young adults regularly done by one in 10 finds new CDC report
• College students’ mental health may have an impact on their academic violations according to non-profit group reports JD Supra
• College Title IX sexual assault allegations focus of lawsuit filed against Butler University women’s soccer team trainer reports the Indy Star
• College sexual misconduct mishandling by the California State University system detailed in a pair of reports
• College professor suspended after opioid crisis-related criticism of Texas lieutenant governor reports The Texas Tribune
• College discrimination lawsuit requires college to produce students’ educational records finds state district court

About NIRSA’s partnership with Active Policy Solutions

As an association, NIRSA strives to monitor and track policy and legislative issues with the potential to impact our members or the campus communities they serve. These issues are wide ranging and may pertain to higher education, employment law, physical fitness, or our strategic values areas.

NIRSA has joined with a subset of SAHEC members (ACUHO-I, ACPA, ASCA, NASPA, and NIRSA) in hiring Active Policy Solutions to assist with monitoring, tracking, analyzing, and determining appropriate action on issues relevant to our associations. Through our partnership with SAHEC, NIRSA continues to monitor policy, legislation, and advocacy work that affects both the higher education and physical activity space. Active Policy Solutions provides government relations and advocacy support to NIRSA and the Association’s SAHEC partners.