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Strategic Plan for Recreation & Wellness

Context For Planning

Campus Recreation within the Division of Student Services (DSS) enhances and engages the university community by providing inclusive and diverse recreational opportunities that inspire participation, promote health and wellbeing, and encourage student development and success through the following program areas: Fitness and Wellness, Club & Intramural Sports, Group Exercise, and Outdoor Adventure. Campus Recreation aspires to be a leader who integrally contributes to student success through comprehensive and quality recreational services and programs that further wellbeing and community. Assessment by GVSU Campus Recreation will be a continuous process used by the department to evaluate the degree to which GVSU Campus Recreation’s programs and services contribute to the Grand Valley State University mission. Assessment by GVSU Campus Recreation will be a system of documenting and improving the effectiveness of Campus Recreation as it relates to delivering quality programs and services, as well as the learning and development of students. An ongoing process will be used to collect, review, and use information with the goal of understanding and improving our student learning. Assessment by GVSU Campus Recreation will be to evaluate whether the department is meeting departmental objectives and those within Student Services.

Mission

Enhance and engage the GVSU community by providing inclusive and diverse recreational opportunities that inspire participation, promote health and wellbeing, and encourage student development and success.

Vision

Campus Recreation aspires to be a leader who integrally contributes to student success through comprehensive and quality recreational services and programs that further wellbeing and community.

Value Statement

Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives

Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.

Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.

Objective 1.B.1

Increase Campus Recreation student employees’ knowledge and understanding of diversity and inclusion, resulting in 50% or more students indicating a higher level of understanding of diversity and inclusive issues at the end of the training.

Baseline

Fall 2017 Staff Training: Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center Training, Saturday August 26 Please rate your level of understanding related to diversity and inclusive issues: Pre-Training Low: 6 Medium: 35 High:18 Post-Training Low: 0 Medium: 25 High: 31 With 18 students already indicated a high level of understanding of diversity and inclusion prior to the training, 41 students indicated low or medium levels pre-training. Following the training, out of these 41 students who indicated low or medium levels of understanding, 39% reported an increased level of understanding post-training..

Progress

2018 Status
Achieved
Overall student employees reported knowledge gained related to diversity and inclusive issues following the training as well as how to create a more inclusive environment. With an attendance of 68 people, 28 students reported high level of understanding prior to the training. Out of the 36 that rated themselves low or medium, 75% indicated a higher level of understanding post-training.

2017 Status
Substantive Progress
Overall student employees reported knowledge gained related to diversity and inclusive issues following the training as well as how to create a more inclusive environment.

Outcome F: Campus Recreation will provide programs and services that create an inclusive environment for all participants and staff.

Objective 1.F.1

Campus Recreation will offer intentional inclusive recreational programming, resulting in 85% of survey respondents reporting satisfaction with our programs.

Baseline

Past Results 2015-16; Unified Sports Fall Survey (32% Response Rate, 88.89% Very Satisfied with overall GVSU Unified Sports program experience). Wheelchair Basketball Event (32.5% Response Rate, 100% enjoyed the event, and 96% reported that they learned from it.)

Progress

2021 Status
Substantial Progress
With the continuation of the pandemic, RecWell has continued to evolve programming and services to adapt to the changing student needs. This has included increasing use of technology and virtual connections. Most RecWell programs were offered at no cost to students. Overall participation has decreased and also made it challenging to conduct surveys. LIFT (LGBT Inclusive Fitness Training) continued. In 20-21 Club Sport competition was very limited but many teams stayed active. 204 Club Sports athletes were surveyed on their club sport experience, 98% reported they agreed or strongly agreed that their club provided a welcoming & inclusive environment. For Fitness & Wellness services, of 58 participants who responded, 97% agreed or strongly agreed that the environment was welcoming and inclusive. Fall '20 & Winter '21 Intramural Sports, surveyed students in in which 97% and 91% respectively, strongly agree or agree that IM sports provides a safe and inclusive environment. In summer of 2020, RecWell professional staff began DEI case studies discussions bi-weekly. Additionally efforts to form and recruit for the first ever RecWell Student Advisory board began. In January 2021, RecWell was awarded a Special Projects GA that will focus on efforts on adaptive and inclusive recreation and wellness.

2020 Status
Substantial Progress
Recreation and Wellness programs were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Programs were reduced or modified to reduce risks, and surveying was limited. Many of our programs were offered virtually and some offered in person. Fall 2020 Intramural Sports non-contact opportunities resulted in a 76% of survey respondents stating that IM's provided a safe and inclusive environment. Fitness & Wellness offered both in person and virtual services, resulting in 81% of survey respondents agreeing that staff were "Welcoming" and "Accommodating".

Outcome G: Campus Recreation will strengthen our collaborative relationships through intentional co-curricular experiences that enhance programs and services and further develop students.

Objective 1.G.1

Two collaborative training events with other university departments or organizations will be developed annually, resulting in 80% of Campus Recreation student staff scoring an 80% or better on a post training evaluation.

Baseline

Baseline to be established in 2018-2019

Progress

2021 Status
Substantial Progress
Larger collaborative all staff trainings were limited due to the pandemic, however program areas continued student staff development opportunities and increased internal connections. Due to the reduced Club Sport competition, Club Sports Coordinator organized 16 virtual club sport workshops that were centered on student learning and development. 327 athletes attended to learn various topics that included Impact of Alcohol and Drugs, Making Connections, Wellness Series, and others.Peer Wellness Educators were hired and began programming. They have partnered with other peer educators on campus including AOD, PEP/CWGE and WIT (Wellness Information Team)

2019 Status
Substantive Progress
We conducted an all staff training in August 2019 and invited University Counseling Center in to train students on QPR. The number of surveys is unknown, but the training was mandatory for Recreation & Wellness Staff it also included Athletic and Rec Facilities. Total number of students was at least 80. In January 2020, we conducted an all staff training and invited Disability Support Resources to provide education and awareness on students with disabilities at GVSU. Approximately 80 students were in attendance. 58 pre and post assessments were collected and 100 percent of students reported increased knowledge, awareness and understanding of disabilities in their post assessment.

Outcome I: Campus Recreation will be a recognizable leader at GVSU for providing recreational programs and services that promote a healthy lifestyle.

Objective 1.I.1

70% of new students will participate in recreation (programs, services, or facilities)

Baseline

Percent of first year students who participate in Campus Recreation: Undergraduate Graduate Combined 2015-16 71.1% 21.0% 63.1%

Progress

2021 Status
Substantial Progress
For 20-21: 38.5% of all GVSU students participated in recreation 45.8% of all new first year students participated in recreation 53.15 of first year undergraduates participated in recreation 62.9% of FTIAC participated in recreation

2019 Status
Substantial Progress
52% of all GVSU students participate in recreation. 64% of all new first year students participated in recreation. 72.2% of first year undergraduates participated in recreation. 82% of FTIAC participated in recreation.

Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.

Outcome H: Campus Recreation will create a climate of teamwork, collaboration, and service to the GVSU community that embraces change within our department.

Objective 2.H.1

100% of all new professional staff will complete Strength Quest assessment

Baseline

This is a new objective as of 2018.

Progress

2021 Status
Achieved
Newly hired Recreation & Wellness professional staff continue to complete the Strengths Quest assessment as part of the onboarding process.

2019 Status
Achieved
All new hires have completed Strengths Quest and has become routine on boarding for all new staff.

Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.

Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.

Objective 3.B.1

Campus Recreation will offer diverse and inclusive recreational opportunities, resulting in 90% of survey respondents agreeing that Campus Recreation provides programs, services, and facilities that are diverse and inclusive. This will be measured every 4 years or determined based on the NIRSA/NASPA consortium schedule.

Baseline

In 2012, Campus Recreation administered the NASPA/NIRSA Campus Recreation Impact Study. The survey was sent to a random sampling of 2000 students and 600 faculty/staff. Response rate was 31% (619 responses) for students and 50% (302 responses) for faculty/staff; for an overall response rate of 35.5%. Participants were asked the following question. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statement: Recreation offers "something for everyone". Results: 51.48% Strongly Agree; 33.22% Somewhat Agree; 8.52% Neither Agree nor Disagree; 2.25% Somewhat Disagree; 0.87% Strongly Disagree; 3.65% No basis to Judge. (84.7% agree at some level)

Progress

2021 Status
Substantive Progress
The NIRSA/NASPA consortium has was not scheduled for 2021 in part due to the challenges of the COVID pandemic. However, the action strategies that were identified have continued on through various efforts of the department. These include continuing supporting the departments inclusive statement, supporting the "If You Can Play, You Can Play" campaign, hiring of an Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation & Wellness GA position, launching a RecWell Student Advisory Board, develop strategies that address barriers to participation within recreation & wellness programs, especially in underrepresented minority groups. Re-initiate Unified Sports program once the pandemic safely allows participation. Supporting professional and student development and trainings that relate to diversity, equity and inclusion.

2017 Status
Substantive Progress
Campus Recreation continues to focus on providing diverse and inclusive programs and services.

Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.

Outcome I: Campus Recreation will be a recognizable leader at GVSU for providing recreational programs and services that promote a healthy lifestyle.

Objective 4.I.1

Campus Recreation will win a NIRSA Creative Excellence Award which recognizes NIRSA Members’ outstanding accomplishments in campus recreation marketing.

Baseline

As of 2018, Campus Recreation has not won any NIRSA Creative Excellence Awards.

Progress

2019 Status
Achieved
A submission was made in Fall 2019 for the Student Digital Presentation category for "The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace (LNT): Video Series" created by Sarah Anderson, a GV Recreation & Wellness Marketing student staff. The project was awarded 3rd place in the Creative Excellence category, and will be given at the national conference in Phoenix, AZ April 2020.

2018 Status
Minimal Progress
We submitted the 2017-18 Campus Recreation Annual Report and the Unplugged Campaign for the NIRSA Creative Excellence Awards, and were not awarded any for 2018-2019.

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