Once upon a time employment at an institution of higher education seemed like a safe and secure long-term vocational path. Employees often chose to remain at their school from entry level hiring through retirement. And those employees, as long as they were competent, usually never had to worry, “What if?”
Unfortunately for those of us in higher ed, inclusive of campus recreation, the age of “What if?” has arrived.
The landscape of higher education was already in flux when the global pandemic impacted the field like a wrecking ball out of nowhere. Existing challenges such as declining enrollment and rising costs were greatly exacerbated by the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.
Well over 200 schools furloughed or laid off employees due to the pandemic. Numerous institutions slashed employee benefits. In total, the higher ed workforce shrank by 4% in Fall 2020 while the number of colleges and universities eligible to award federal financial aid has fallen from 6,642 in 2017-18 to 6,063 in 2020-21, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Higher education as a whole was hit hard by the pandemic. On many campuses, personnel and budget cuts affected campus recreation. But clearly, as evidenced by the number of institutional mergers and school closures since 2017-18, the landscape was already shifting pre-pandemic.
EXTRA CREDIT: An anonymous author shares why they left their campus rec position — a job they loved — to create an understanding of the current climate.
As a result, many dedicated, hard working employees found themselves involuntarily separated from colleges and universities that they loved working at. These individuals suddenly faced a scarce job market that only started to stabilize in Fall 2021.
The great lesson that should be learned from all of this is that every campus rec employee should take stock of their school’s institutional health and how that affects their personal career journey. Potentially difficult decisions need to be considered. Reality needs to be seen for what it is. Rose colored glasses are not a helpful tool when seismic change is looming. Being proactive and understanding the current landscape of higher ed, at both global and local levels, is essential.
Consider these factors when examining a career journey in campus rec:
- Does an institution have a track record of recent financial stability? Does it have a sound strategic plan that promotes a promising future? Keep in mind financial stability and a large endowment are not necessarily the same thing. Even Stanford University — $27 billion endowment — laid off 208 employees in 2020. Dig deep to understand the holistic financial status of your current or prospective employer to gauge institutional prosperity.
- Does a university’s leadership have an agenda that is not in the best interest of its workforce? Will an administration use today’s problems — i.e. the pandemic — as an impetus to implement cuts to programs and services that were already under discussion but difficult to sell prior to the onset of COVID-19?
- Is a school on a consistent or upward trajectory for new student enrollment? How have the persistence numbers been trending for the past several years for enrolled students? Does a school rely on populations with declining enrollment? Stay on the lookout for red flag data.
- Does a university’s leadership truly value student life, and even more specifically, campus recreation? Understanding where campus rec lands in a campus’ culture can speak volumes with regards to whether or not a particular institution will provide a purposeful work environment for campus rec professionals.
- Understand that “private” vs. “public” is more nuanced than just enrollment and campus size. A number of major public universities made significant cuts during the pandemic. Two year public institutions saw much greater declines in workforce size in 2020-21 than both four year public and private institutions. However, smaller private colleges — facing rising costs, shrinking enrollments and increased public scrutiny for high tuition figures — face a sea of uncertainty and challenges that most certainly impact employee efficiency and morale. As cited by Inside Higher Ed, “The huge influx of federal recovery funds in the last 12 months … has thrown a lifeline to the scores, if not hundreds, of colleges that were under financial strain before the pandemic, which walloped many of them.” The lesson to be learned here: Regardless of public or private status, it’s essential to understand the challenges that an institution faces, whether you are a current staff member or seeking employment there.
- Has a university made recent faculty cuts? If so, be wary. Although cuts to academic instruction may come at the expense of underperforming majors or minors, cutting faculty can create a vicious cycle that impacts enrollment. This type of news can affect prospective students in a negative way, often leading to an enrollment decline.
- Regardless of past experience, know when to place personal well-being before loyalty to your institution. The hardest decision any content employee can come to is the realization it is time to move on from a beloved place of employment. Campus rec professionals generally tend to be happy and enthusiastic individuals working in departments that have resounding positive energy. But existing in that bubble can become costly if an institution begins to struggle. In these cases campus rec professionals need to at least be willing to explore the market and consider which factors matter most to them. For example, moving on from a smaller school to a larger one may result in sacrificing a title. However, it could result in improved salary and benefits, and employment in a more stable setting. There is nothing wrong with balancing being a dedicated employee with caring for one’s own professional well-being.
In Conclusion
In the end, it is imperative all campus rec professionals keep an eye on the big picture. Higher education today looks very different than it did 50 years ago. Certainly the future of higher ed is bound to be different from what it looks like today. And no one can tell when an unexpected calamity such as a pandemic will impart swift and unexpected change on colleges and universities.
In the end, the cautionary lessons campus rec professionals need to remember are:
- To see the big picture with clarity.
- Be aware of the institutional health of your employer or prospective employer.
- Always consider personal well-being in making decisions that affect your career journey.
