One minute you’re flying to Florida. Then in a blink of an eye, the 2023 Campus Rec Leadership Summit has wrapped up, and you find yourself flying back home.
But before we start diving into our prep for the 2024 event — which will be at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas — I wanted to share some of the top takeaways from the 2023 Leadership Summit here:
1. Change, Change and More Change
One of the big topics surrounding much of the roundtable discussions was there is a lot of transition currently on university and college campuses. Whether it’s the change in reporting structure or a new president/leadership, to the incoming generation of students and stepping further into the conversation of wellness and well-being, transition is happening. The anxiety is real, and I saw numerous directors bonding over these discussions.
2. A Crisis of Mental Health
As one attendee noted, “The college kid of tomorrow is going to come with a lot more baggage; we need to figure out how to help them.” It can be overwhelming hearing the data, but it was heartening to learn we currently have the lowest mental health stigma ever recorded in the U.S. I think people are finally getting it. New initiatives are gaining traction; while social media can be negative the amount of mental health information being shared on it is mind blowing; and no matter what door a student walks through on campus, it shouldn’t be the wrong door. All of these shared ideas are each a step in the right direction.
3. EDI is a Continuing Conversation
The roundtable on this topic was expertly led by our moderator, Jorge Juarez. He shared when he starts off talks on diversity, he will state 17 things that make him who he is that you don’t see. Some great definitions/analogies on equity, diversity and inclusion were offered up by the group, including the dance analogy: Inclusion is inviting everyone to dance and not judging their dance moves. Diversity is inviting all people to dance. Equity is everyone can choose a song and gets a space on the dance floor. From advertising diverse music nights, to focusing on a lens of belonging, to removing barriers of affordability, there is still a lot of work to be done in this area. But I noticed the leaders at the Summit unafraid to pursue this work.
4. A New World of Hiring
Today’s candidates are different. They want different things. As an industry, you all know what I’m talking about. Consider hiring outside of campus rec. Acknowledge and manage generational priorities and sensibilities. If more money isn’t an option, additional benefits could be. Plus, the younger generation wants coaching and mentorship. To understand this new world of hiring, you need to have the new pool of job applicants at the table.
5. Creativity is Key
I loved hearing the creative partnerships and trends various campuses are pursuing. Some examples include: Northern Illinois University has a partnership with police on campus — the police get free memberships to build relationships with the campus community so police don’t just come for a negative reason to campus. Or, the partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) Downtown in which community members rent out space to play pickleball, paying ASU $1,000 a week. Going hand in hand with the era of change, creativity is a must in campus rec right now.
With all of the above, I’m encouraged by the fabulous leaders and vendors partner we have in this industry. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: they are changing the world. It’s a privilege to be able to give a space for those world-changing conversations. I’m already looking forward to doing it again in San Antonio in 2024.
Interested in attending or sponsoring? New spots for next year’s event open up July 30, 2023. Email heather@peakemedia.com for more information.
