While most of campus slowed down over the summer, the Sport and Recreation Management program was going strong with 130 students engaged in experiential learning for academic credit. About half those students were enrolled in one of three practicum courses working on real-world projects with organizations such as the San Diego Padres, NASCAR and the John Deere Classic PGA tournament; the other half of students performed internships at all levels of the sport and recreation industry and maximized their professional development through faculty interaction and assignments in a structured internship course.
As busy as our faculty and students were this summer with experiential and online coursework, we are now squarely focused on the fall semester and our ninth annual UISRM Symposium that will bring together students, faculty, alumni, advisory board members and industry partners for educational panels, networking sessions, a job and internship fair, student recognition and more.
Frankly, most of the initiatives outlined above would be impossible or require high student fees if not for the generous annual-giving spirit of our community of supporters. Thanks to annual gifts and pledges during the past academic year, UISRM:
- Provided financial assistance to 57 students with need to reduce the obstacles presented by tuition, fees and other expenses associated with summer experiential learning courses.
- Provided financial assistance to 14 incoming SRM students with need.
- Kept the UISRM Symposium free to all UI students.
- Created a UISRM partnership with the Women Leaders in Sports organization that funded memberships for 27 students.
- Established a UISRM partnership with the UI Athletics Development team to create a SRM Fellowship position for a master’s student to gain experience in college athletics fundraising.
- Provided financial assistance for faculty traveling to and participating in professional conferences and other forms of development that bring knowledge, connections and new opportunities back to campus for the benefit of the classes we teach and the mentoring we provide to students.
Those and other efforts last academic year amounted to more than $60,000 of support that directly impacted the lives and education of hundreds of students.
In 2024-25, UISRM will attempt to repeat its student support at the same level as last year. That begins with a critical foundation created by two generous annual pledges: the John E. Evans Experiential Learning Award, and the Maiers Family Student Success Fund. Those two sources of support will help reduce student fees and expenses associated with field trips, practicum courses and other experiences while funding several scholarships for deserving students.
But to reach the level of student support that UISRM provided last year, it will take a repeat of the many annual gifts made to UISRM through the UI Center for Advancement by our entire community of supporters. Please watch for a call to action during UISRM’s Season of Giving at the end of the calendar year and, of course, our push to win the One Day for Iowa competition in the spring. UISRM needs support from annual giving more than ever to maintain a consistent level of scholarship awards and other support for students during 2024-25. Please consider giving today at any level at the link below to start the new academic year on Team UISRM.
It’s easy to give to the UISRM program. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will go directly to supporting the unique, experience-based education the UISRM program provides its students.