Within higher education, it is no secret that an effective collaboration often yields impactful results. A collaborative relationship for campus recreation professionals worth pursuing is an academic collaboration.
Barriers, such as assumptions and incorrect perceptions, lack of trust, and differing values and priorities, exist that may prevent professionals in campus recreation and faculty in academic affairs working with one another (Pedersen, 2015).
To help combat these challenges, there are relatively simple ways for campus recreation professionals to bridge any gap that exists with their colleagues in academia. The following includes five practical ways campus recreation professionals can utilize faculty to enhance their departmental efforts.
Graduate Assistant Recruitment
We know how vital graduate assistants are to overall departmental operations. The recruitment of graduate assistants (GA) is a competitive process. We owe it to those prospective GAs to provide as much information as possible. That way they can make an informed decision.
An excellent way to make an academic collaboration happen is to request a faculty member’s involvement — on-call, if nothing else — to aid in the recruitment process. Having a faculty member available to answer questions about admission requirements, program of study specifics and general academic information can play an integral part in the recruitment of your future rock star GA. You’ll be surprised how many faculty will gladly serve in this capacity. And it’s not only because they want to, but they need service hours, too.
Search Committees and Advisory Boards
Another great way to utilize faculty at your institution is to involve them in professional search committees.
There are almost certainly faculty members that participate in your department’s programs, services or facilities regularly. Calling on your friends in academic affairs to serve on a search committee is an easy and effective way to facilitate a better working relationship with those in academics.
The same holds true for your advisory boards. Many faculty bring diverse and relevant professional experiences to the table and can be a real asset in serving on your advisory board.
Research Projects or Grant Proposals
OK, don’t stop reading now. The thought of being involved in a research project brings back not-so-good memories for many of us. However, we know the impact that scholarly research can have on our industry. Campus recreation has made great strides in contributing to the literature over the years.
For most faculty, research is a core responsibility of theirs within the academy. Many faculty include their curriculum vitae and research interests on a departmental website. If you have a hot button research topic you have been interested in for a while, schedule a visit with a faculty member that has similar interests and explore a scholarly collaboration. Working together to pursue a grant that could help fund a new program or facility enhancement is another terrific possibility. Faculty members can provide significant guidance in a research or grant project.
Additionally, your state, regional, and national association would love for you to present your findings.
Using Faculty Expertise
One of the wonderful things about higher education is the abundance of bright faculty/staff members available for your program’s enhancement. Sometimes, that guest speaker you are attempting to secure for your student staff or that individual you are looking for to lead an in-service is right there on your campus. Don’t overthink it. Call on that faculty colleague to serve in this capacity for you.
Internships and Student Employment
There is no doubt the pandemic has tremendously impacted staffing in campus recreation. For many, building hours have been reduced and programs and services altered because of challenges associated with staffing and student employment.
A tactic that could possibly yield some productive results is reaching out to those in various academic units and promoting departmental internships or employment opportunities to students majoring in programs within that respective unit. Faculty mentors that promote work experience to their students will find this to be a welcome tactic of yours.
EXTRA CREDIT: Three strategies that can be used by all to build effective partnerships and collaborations.
However, the approaches here are nothing Earth-shattering. Instead, they are simply a reminder to view faculty in academic affairs as allies, not adversaries, in ensuring the common goal of student success and development.
Whether you are a new campus recreational professional or a seasoned veteran, evaluate how you can best facilitate a meaningful academic collaboration with faculty at your institution.
References
Pedersen, J. (2015). Bridging the gap between student affairs and academic affairs. Retrieved from The Student Affairs Collective
