Pursuing a Career in Campus Recreation

1. Pursuing a Career in Campus Recreation Pat McGrath Assistant Director – Aquatics and Outdoor Pursuits WIU Campus Recreation

2. Overview • What is Campus Recreation? • Who I am • How I got there • Hurdles/Obstacles • Requirements • Experience • Certifications • Everything they never tell you when you are a student • Questions

3. What is Campus Recreation? • The mission of Campus Recreation is to provide recreational programs and facilities to the University community with an emphasis on meeting student needs. The services offered provide life-enhancing, recreational opportunities for the physical, mental, and social interests of the individual. Campus Recreation takes pride in providing students, faculty, and staff with an opportunity to balance work and recreation through a variety of programs, services, and facilities.

4. Areas of Campus Recreation • Aquatics • Camps • Facilities Management • Fitness • Intramurals • Personal Training • Outdoors • Rec Events • Sport Clubs • Student Development

5. My Current Role Aquatics Outdoor Pursuits Advertise, plan, program and execute a variety of outdoor programs Develop a student staff of trip leaders Implement an equipment rental program The sky is the limit • Manage Aquatics Center • Hire, train, and schedule lifeguards • Program aquatics events • Stay up to date on industry trends and standards • Manage and minimize risk in a high consequence area

6. WHY? • You can work anywhere there is a college/university • Free gym membership • Always something new • Continuing education • IT’S FUN!

7. My Start • Sport Club President • Student Employee • Intramural Official • Internship • Lifeguard • Camp Counselor • Facility Attendant • Facility Supervisor

8. The Light Bulb Moment You can work in Campus Recreation as a career?

9. Getting in the Door • Graduate Assistantship • Master’s Degree “preferred” • The gateway for full time positions • National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) • Internship • Slippery Rock University

10. To Summarize • Undergrad: • Sport Clubs • Intramurals • Facility Supervision • Lifeguarding • Grad School • Sport Clubs • Facilities • Internship • Sport Clubs • Outdoors • A bit of everything else • Non Campus Recreation Experiences • Outdoors • Raft Guiding

11. Hurdles Along the Way • Applying for positions at every level • Well rounded is a pro and a con • Interviewing skills • Financial obstacles

12. Job Requirements • Graduate Degree • Hiring, supervision, and scheduling of employees • Experience with specific program area • Ability to collaborate and work with others within department and across campus

13. Certifications • Overall: • First Aid, CPR/AED • Instructor • Aquatics • Lifeguard Instructor/Trainer • Water Safety Instructor/Trainer • Outdoors • Wilderness First Responder • Activity Specific Certifications

14. Advancement • 3-5 years to move out of “entry level” • 5-7 years minimum for director level • Increasing roles of responsibility • Experience with budgeting • Student development • Risk Management

15. What They Never Tell You • Patience • Preferred = mandatory • Others’ off time is our work time • Change is difficult • Get involved • Committees • Volunteer • Professional Organizations

16. Questions? Pat McGrath Student Recreation Center 200E p-mcgrath@wiu.edu (309)298-1228