Across the nation, collegiate recreation departments position the student at the forefront of their programs, services, and facilities. In this presentation, students will be educated on the importance of developing and maintaining high performance standards. Grow and succeed, not only as a student, but also as a leader and professional.

1. NIRSA 2014
State of Emergency: Student Leader Outbreak!
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center,
Nashville, TN
Thursday April 23rd , 8:00am: Washington Room

2. Selected
Core Competencis:
◼ NIRSA Registry Commission Management
Techniques:
Application of the following
▪ Staff/Student Development
▪ Leadership Development
▪ Conflict Resolution

3. Objectives
• (Primacy) Learning Objective #1: Articulate the importance of
developing and maintaining a student lifestyle/wellness plan that
prioritizes academic, professional, and social relationships.
• (Professionalism) Learning Objective #2: Identify the challenging
situations that all student managers face with interaction
between student and professional staff groups.
• (Responsibility) Learning Objective #3: Convey the importance
of customer satisfaction in campus recreation facilities.

4. ◼ Mason Recreation is committed to providing an educational
employment experience that will enhance the lives of its student
employees.
◼ The department positions student staff at the forefront of its
programs, services, and facilities. As integral components of the
Recreation Department, student employees are presented with
opportunities to learn, grow, and develop as students and
professionals.
◼ We foster leadership development, employee growth opportunities,
transferable life skills, and personal and career development of
student employees.
Student Employee Mission Statement

5. Learning Objective I
◼ Articulate the importance of prioritizing and
maintaining Academic, Professional, and Social
Wellbeing.
◼ Help classify priorities of student employees.
▪ Academic Relationship:
▪ Professional Relationship:
▪ Social Relationship:

6. ◼How to prioritize as a student leader and
student employee?
▪ Why did you enroll in College?
▪ Earning vs. Learning what comes first?
▪ Academics, Social Life, Work, Studentt
Organizations….which is most important?
Primacy

7. Student Venn Diagram
Academic
Excellence
Bank
Account
Statement
Above $0.00
Sleep

8. Earning while Learning
• Learning outside of the classroom
• Time Management
• Conflict Management
• Managerial Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Delegating Tasks
• Customer Service Skills
• Conducting Interviews

9. Earning while Learning
•Analytical Skills
•Problem Solving
•Evaluation Skills
•Self Awareness
•Networking
•Negotiation
•Proactive
•Confidence
•Listening
•Verbal Awareness
•Positivity
•Assertiveness
•Ability to Break down
communication barriers
• Vertical and Horizontal
• Constructive Criticism
Communication
Skills
Interpersonal
Skills
Transferable
Skills
Career
Management
Skills

10. • 75 % of our student managers believe that their work experience with
campus rec will make them more competitive in the job market.
• 66% of our student managers believe that working with campus rec
has helped with their professional progression
• 94% of student manager believe that balancing work responsibilities
with academic studies has helped to improve their time management
skills
• 44% of student managers believe that Campus Rec has helped with
them develop a post graduation plan.
Research Data

11. Learning Objective II: Professionalism
• Communicate the importance of
professionalism in the workplace
– Why did you seek employment?
• Examine various aspects of students’ jobs
where professionalism is key
– Staff Interaction
– Challenging Situations
– Transparency

12. Why did you seek employment?
• 75% of our student employees expressed that
gaining professional experience was one of
their reasons for seeking employment with
the MasonRec.
• How do we provide these students with
opportunities for professional development?
– Interdepartmental opportunities
– Practical on the job experience

13. Interdepartmental
• Employee Growth
Opportunities
– Position Advancement
– Higher Wages
– Increased Responsibilities
– Higher Expectations
• Leadership Opportunities
– Hiring Committee
– Recreation Advisory Board
– Student Leadership Team
– Incentive Committee
• Professional
Opportunities
– Lifeguard Instructor
Certification
– CPR/First Aid Instructor
Certification
– Water Safety Instructor
Certification
– Personal Training/Group
Fitness Prep Courses
– National Official
Certification (USSF,
Cardinal, ASA)

14. Staff Interaction
• Relaying information to one another
effectively
• Enforcing rules and regulations consistently
across-the-board
• Acting as liaisons for our department

15. Challenging Situations
• As student leaders we face many challenging
situations including:
– Motivating staff
– Disciplining peers
– Communicating with patrons

16. Transparency
• Why?
– Builds authentic relationships
– Key to earning trust and respect
• How?
– Being open and honest
– Providing feedback

17. • The customer is not always right, but the
customer is always the customer
• Educate them to understand
• Make them comfortable
• Be understanding to help find a solution
Learning Objective III
RESPONSIBILITY

19. I’ve been coming to your restaurant for over three
years. I always order a #2 hamburger and a chocolate
shake. I always ask for an extra pickle and I always get
one. Mind you, this has been going on once or twice a
week for three years.
I came into your restaurant the other day and I
ordered my usual #2 hamburger and a chocolate
shake. I asked the young waitress for an extra pickle. I
believe she was new because I hadn’t seen her before.
She said, “Sir, I will sell you a side of pickles for
$1.25.” I told her, “No, I just want one extra slice of
pickle. I always ask for it and they always give it to
me. Go ask your manager.”
She went away and came back after speaking to the
manager. The waitress looked me in the eye and said,
“I’ll sell you a pickle for a nickel.” Mr Farrell, I told her
what to do with her pickle, hamburger and milkshake.
I’m not coming back to your restaurant if that’s the
way you’re going to run it

20. • Your #1 priority is to ensure that you are
serving the needs of others, and maintain a
happy and healthy environment in your
facilities
Service

21. • The pride that you take in your facility, your
job, and your patrons is the pride that will be
reciprocated
• Choose the attitude that you want to exude
through your recreation and watch how
contagious it becomes
Attitude

22. Teamwork
• Find a way to make your students staff and
professional staff work together and make
each other look, feel and do good.
• That teamwork will enhance your customer
service and enrich everyone’s recreational
experience.

23. • You are responsible for enhancing customer
service and enriching the experiences of all
who enter your facility.
• So remember……..

24. http://www.giveemthepickle.com/pickle_principle.htm

25. Thank You
• Ebonie Gibbs – egibbs@gmu.edu
• Trent Houston – thousto2@gmu.edu
• Donovan Tyson – dtyson3@gmu.edu
• Follow us on @GeorgeMasonRec