
Over 900 students will celebrate their graduates in person with commencement ceremonies during the coming weeks. We enjoy traveling, spending time with family, attending concerts - mostly Pearl Jam - and supporting local restaurants, breweries and wineries.Įxtra: Check out this idea from Josh Downing in “8 Ideas from the Virtual Summit Roundtables.Students from across Indiana’s K12-powered network of online public schools serving K-12 grade students throughout the state, are ready to take charge of their futures. JD: I’m married to my high school sweetheart. We’ve been married for 17 years, but together for 27. What is one fun fact about yourself others may not know? Campus recreation is a perfect profession to lean in with yes. I would encourage you to apply this as you move forward in your career. Leaning in with yes creates the opportunity to try new things, gets you out of your comfort zone, expands your experiences, etc. JD: A mentor suggested this to me a few years back: lean in with yes. What is one lesson you have learned that other recreation professionals might benefit from? The opportunity to help lead this and be part of it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We have top down and bottom up support, and many departments across campus are actively involved in this groundbreaking initiative. The BUBeWell framework is the foundation for a transformative and holistic Butler experience. We are making a difference and changing the culture to a culture of well-being at Butler. JD: The launch of BUBeWell, the university well-being initiative, two years ago. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career? But it did have a big impact on the team which was a period of uncertainty for them. I’m extremely proud of the Recreation and Wellness team for how quickly they shifted gears, adapted to the second-by-second changes and have supported our students throughout.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced throughout your career? Our programs and services have high participation rates yearly, and nearly 90% of our students and 20% of our faculty and staff use the activity spaces of the Health and Recreation Complex on a regular basis.
#Butler university student population free
In January 2020, the use of our facility became free for 1,000 faculty and staff. Prior, Butler only had a few small recreation program offerings along with some fitness equipment in a small room in the basement of the student union. Since 2006 we have grown to become a robust department supporting a student population of 4,800. We opened the 85,000-square-foot Health and Recreation Complex along with our department in 2006. JD: We are a valued partner and collaborator on campus. How would you go about describing campus recreation at Butler?


#Butler university student population professional
I am very thankful for the professional staff at IU who provided me with many experiences and opportunities. After, I got my start professionally in Intramural and Club Sports at my alma mater. Then, I had the fortunate opportunity to be a graduate assistant and pursue my master’s degree at IU. That led me to a couple mentors who took me under their wing and opened my eyes to campus recreation and that you could have it as a career.

Josh Downing: I got my start as an intramural official at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana, my sophomore year. For the January/February 2021 issue, Campus Rec spoke with Josh Downing, the director of Recreation & Wellness at Butler University. The Final Exam is your chance to get advice and insights from experts in the industry.
