THE COLLABORATIVE ON HIGHER EDUCATION ( CoHE ) expanded its presence at the 2024 ISPA Conference in Phoenix . Members of the group made wise use of an extended stay in the area : A separate university recreation conference concluded a few days prior to the spa gathering , so CoHE created a “ Partners in Wellness ” bridge event to connect the gap . For three days , this event offered ISPA attendees focused programming on modalities of interest to universities .

“ It was a fantastic learning opportunity for us ,” said CoHE ’ s Tamara Jarrett ,“ and it provided added value for ISPA exhibitors , allowing them increased access to university decision-makers .”

CoHE ’ s primary goal is to increase spa industry engagement from higher education . The 2024 event drew twice as many university representatives as the previous year . “ We ’ re so pleased to see more universities engaging with

ISPA and benefiting from both ISPA ’ s expertise and CoHE ’ s resources ,” Jarrett added .

INTERNSHIP PILOT ISPA and CoHE are excited to introduce a new internship program designed to connect higher education with the spa industry . This initiative will pair ISPA members with local universities to offer students hands-on experience in spa operations . The pilot program , set to launch this fall with internships beginning in spring 2025 , will engage students from relevant fields like cosmetology , hospitality and wellness management . Interns will rotate through various departments , gaining practical skills in areas such as front desk management , customer service , spa treatments and business administration . This experiential learning opportunity aims to foster professional growth , enhance career prospects and contribute to the high standards of the spa industry , ultimately helping to cultivate the next generation of spa leaders .

CoHE at the 2024 ISPA Conference l 2 years of ISPA Conference participation l 3 days of Partners in Wellness programming l 15 Conference exhibitors engaged in the Partners in Wellness event l 17 Universities represented in 2024

CoHE members and university representatives gathered for a Partners in Wellness event prior to the 2024 ISPA Conference .“ You say ‘ spa ’ and don ’ t immediately think of a university rec and wellness center ,” Tamara Jarrett said of the event introducing spa resource partners to university leaders ,“ but they truly are part of our community .”

CoHE Leadership l Tamara Jarrett , CoHE chair and Core Unlimited president l Jennifer Aarons , Stockton University l Amber Brown , UCLA l Condor , Cal State University Northridge l Dave Frock , Clemson University l Melissa Longino , University of Dayton

10 PULSE n OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2024