Individual University License

The Individual University License is designed for people who want to support and develop Nordic Walking within a specific university or university community.

This license can serve as the starting point for creating a Nordic Walking student organization, Campus Recreation Group, university-sponsored program, employee wellness group, or another initiative authorized by the university.

The annual fee for this individual license is $20. RunSignup automatically prorates the fee based on the time remaining in the current license year.

Universities Included in This Category

The license may be associated with a specific:

• public or private university;

• state university;

• research university;

• professional or specialized university;

• university with one or multiple campuses;

• another institution of higher education officially designated as a university.

The distinction between a college and a university is based on the institution’s official identity, not simply its size or the degrees it offers.

If an institution is officially identified as a college, the Individual College License applies.

The Individual University License is associated with one selected university. A separate license in the appropriate category is required for involvement with another independent university.

Who Can Obtain This License?

The license may be obtained by:

• undergraduate students;

• graduate and professional students;

• faculty members;

• researchers;

• university employees and administrators;

• Campus Recreation and wellness professionals;

• coaches and physical education staff;

• student organization leaders;

• alumni when permitted by the university;

• representatives of authorized university partners;

• people who want to propose the creation of a Nordic Walking Group to a specific university.

Prior university approval is not required to purchase the individual license or propose the idea of creating a new group.

However, obtaining the license does not, by itself, authorize someone to represent a particular university, use its name, or describe a group as an official university program without its permission.

Two Possible Group Formats

Registered Student Organization

Students may initiate a Nordic Walking Club or another student-led organization and complete the university’s registration process.

The university independently determines its requirements for recognizing or registering the group. These requirements may include student members, officers, a constitution, a faculty or staff advisor, and periodic registration renewal.

These are university requirements. They are not initial NWANA requirements for obtaining an individual license.

Once approved, the group becomes a Registered Student Organization and operates in accordance with university policies.

Depending on the institution’s policies, a Registered Student Organization may remain an independent student group and may not necessarily become an official division of the university.

University-Operated or Sponsored Group

The university may create its own or sponsored Nordic Walking Group through:

• Campus Recreation;

• Recreation & Wellness;

• Student Affairs;

• Employee Wellness;

• Athletics;

• Physical Education;

• Kinesiology;

• Public Health;

• another university department or authorized partner.

In this format, the group becomes a university-operated program, university-sponsored organization, or another officially authorized campus initiative.

The university determines whom the group serves, which programs it offers, and who is responsible for its activities.

University Permission

Until university approval is obtained, an individual license holder may not:

• represent the group as an official university organization or program;

• use the university’s name, logo, mascot, or other identifying elements;

• use university facilities, equipment, or official communication channels;

• conduct programs or events on behalf of the university.

NWANA may begin preparing a page after the first interested person registers. Until university approval is obtained, the page must have a neutral status and must not imply that the university has already recognized or sponsored the group.

Universities with Multiple Campuses

If a university has multiple campuses or divisions, it independently determines the structure of its Nordic Walking Group.

The group may be:

• university-wide;

• associated with one specific campus;

• created for a medical, research, or professional campus;

• represented by separate groups on multiple campuses;

• part of a particular university department.

NWANA does not impose a single organizational model on the university.

If a university system includes multiple independent universities, a separate Individual University License is required for each institution.

How This Differs from Other Licenses

If an institution is officially identified as a college, the Individual College License applies.

If Nordic Walking is developed as a campus, student, employee, or university wellness initiative, the Individual University License applies.

If Nordic Walking is incorporated into a medical, treatment, or rehabilitation program operated by a university clinic, the Individual Healthcare License applies, and the program is determined by the appropriate professionals and institution.

If a group of students or local residents operates independently and does not represent the university, the Individual Community License applies.

If Nordic Walking is developed through an independent sports club, federation, or athletic organization that is not a university program, the Individual Sports Organization License applies.

What Happens After You Obtain the License?

After registering, you become a holder of the Individual University License. NWANA records your selected university and your interest in developing Nordic Walking within its academic and campus communities.

If a corresponding group and page already exist, you will be able to join them.

If no group exists, your registration may become the starting point for preparing a new page and connecting with other interested students, faculty members, employees, or university partners.

Obtaining the license does not require you to create a group, become its leader, organize walks, or conduct events. At the same time, it does not exclude any of these possibilities. If you wish, you may propose the initiative to the university and participate in the group’s continued development.

At the initial stage, NWANA has no requirements regarding a minimum number of participants, a mandatory schedule, frequency of events, designated officers, or a faculty or staff advisor.

The university’s requirements apply when the group begins its official registration process or receives sponsored program status.

Individual license holders may register for and participate in NWANA in-person and virtual competitions in accordance with the rules of each event. They receive a 5% discount on NWANA competition registration fees.

If a separate athlete license is required for a particular competition, this requirement will be stated in the event rules. The athlete license can be obtained through https://license.nwaofna.org/.

Opportunities for the University Group

As the group develops, it may:

• introduce students, faculty members, and employees to Nordic Walking;

• organize campus walks, student activities, and wellness events;

• create recreational and social opportunities for the university community;

• offer activities for people with different levels of experience;

• collaborate with Campus Recreation, Student Affairs, Wellness, Athletics, and other departments;

• engage with Kinesiology, Public Health, Biomechanics, and other academic departments;

• involve alumni and authorized community partners when permitted by the university;

• invite qualified instructors and other specialists;

• use NWANA training, standards, and instructional resources;

• participate in regional and national NWANA initiatives;

• develop its own ideas for the university and its campuses.

Roles of the University and NWANA

The university independently determines the group’s official status, participants, advisor or other responsible personnel, access to facilities, internal rules, and administrative procedures.

Any academic or research programs are developed and overseen by the university and the appropriate professionals.

NWANA helps participants understand Nordic Walking and provides athletic experience, education, technical standards, instructional resources, and support for the group’s development.

NWANA does not replace the university administration or manage student organizations, campus programs, or university research.

Organizing Your Own Competitions

As the university group develops, it may organize its own in-person or virtual Nordic Walking competitions with the university’s approval.

Use of the NWANA name or designation as an official NWANA competition must be arranged separately.

Financial Structure

The Individual University License fee is paid through RunSignup.

Payments connected with group programs and events and collected through the NWANA-created page may be processed through NWANA when permitted by university policies.

If the university requires a Registered Student Organization or sponsored program to use its internal financial system, the university’s rules apply.

The group’s financial structure will be coordinated with the university as the program develops.

RECOGNIZED Status

RECOGNIZED status applies to the university group, not to an individual license holder.

Creating a group and its page is free. No annual group fee is charged unless the group receives RECOGNIZED status.

Obtaining this status is optional. A group may develop gradually and apply later, when the university and participants are ready to assume greater responsibility for their programs, events, and administration.

The requirements and application process for RECOGNIZED status will be addressed separately at the appropriate stage of the group’s development.

The annual NWANA membership fee for a group with RECOGNIZED status is $200.

What Makes This License Unique?

The Individual University License allows Nordic Walking development to begin with one interested person and gradually become a Registered Student Organization, university-sponsored program, Campus Recreation Group, or another authorized university initiative.

It reflects the complex structure of universities, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional communities, multiple campuses, academic departments, and employee programs.

The primary purpose of this license is to help students, faculty members, employees, and university partners gradually build an accessible and sustainable Nordic Walking Group with support from NWANA.