Pursuing a Career in Campus
Recreation
Pat McGrath
Assistant Director – Aquatics and
Outdoor Pursuits
WIU Campus Recreation
Overview
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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
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.
Areas of Campus Recreation
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Aquatics
Camps
Facilities Management
Fitness
Intramurals
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Personal Training
Outdoors
Rec Events
Sport Clubs
Student Development
My Current Role
Aquatics
• 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
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
WHY?
• You can work anywhere there is a
college/university
• Free gym membership
• Always something new
• Continuing education
• IT’S FUN!
My Start
• Sport Club President
• Student Employee
– Intramural Official
– Internship
• Lifeguard
• Camp Counselor
• Facility Attendant
– Facility Supervisor
The Light Bulb Moment
You can work in Campus
Recreation as a career?
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
To Summarize
• Undergrad:
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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
Hurdles Along the Way
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Applying for positions at every level
Well rounded is a pro and a con
Interviewing skills
Financial obstacles
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
Certifications
• Overall:
– First Aid, CPR/AED
– Instructor
• Aquatics
– Lifeguard Instructor/Trainer
– Water Safety Instructor/Trainer
• Outdoors
– Wilderness First Responder
– Activity Specific Certifications
Advancement
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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
What They Never Tell You
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Patience
Preferred = mandatory
Others’ off time is our work time
Change is difficult
Get involved
– Committees
– Volunteer
– Professional Organizations
Questions?
Pat McGrath
Student Recreation Center 200E
p-mcgrath@wiu.edu
(309)298-1228