Recreation and Leisure Studies Newsletter Spring 2002

Welcome back to SFSU and the spring semester! And a special welcome to all our new graduate students Nell Friedman, Szu-Yi Lu, Amira Tawdrous, Jennifer Tons and any others who may have been admitted late. Hope you all had a good holiday.

I am continuing on as graduate program coordinator with the able assistance of the department faculty. You can contact me for graduate requirements, questions, or to say hello via phone (415) 338-1818 or by email ptierney@sfsu.edu or in my office HSS 309. But for questions first try looking at the revised RLS Grad Student website, http://www.sfsu.edu/~recdept/html/gradhm.htm for news, deadlines, research opportunities and more.

Speaking of the news, we have some big news for the Graduate Program and the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department! We have received final approval for a revised graduate curriculum starting in fall 2005 (see details below). In addition, we are now searching for a new full time faculty position who will likely start next fall. Lastly, we have received funding for two new part-time graduate assistantships that will be offered to qualified new graduate students (see details below).

This welcome back letter contains important department news and information for you to note and write down in your over-flowing appointment book. The SFSU dates can also be found in the University Bulletin, Spring course schedule, or on-line at http://www.sfsu.edu. Remember, it’s your responsibility to know these dates and follow-up on them as needed.

As in the past, the primary means of communicating from the department to graduate students about news, deadlines and job opportunities will be via email and through the Department website. So make sure we have your most up-to-date email address by emailing the department at benes@sfsu.edu.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome new grad students to the Master’s degree program at San Francisco state and all returning grad students as well. The past year has been filled with lots of emotion surrounding the status of the program. As hopefully most of you know our Master’s degree program targeted for discontinuance last spring has emerged as a viable and strong program. Indeed in December, 2004 our new curriculum was formally approved by the university academic senate. Our first new group of students since last January have been admitted: Szu-Yi Lu, , Nell Friedman , Amira Tawdrous, and Jennifer Tons. Welcome back Janis Kaempfe.

Dr. Tierney, Graduate Coordinator has planned a New Grad Student Orientation for Monday, Jan. 31, 5:30-7:30 pm and Comp. Exam orientation for Wed. Feb. 2, 5:30-7:30 pm. Both meetings will take place in Gym 117A. Hopefully we will have a grad student social fairly soon too.

I hope you all have a terrific spring semester. You are welcome to come by my office in HSS 307 to say hello. I f I can be of any assistance please let me know.

DATES UNIVERSITY/RLS DEPT. DEADLINES/EVENTS

Jan. 31 (M) New Grad Orientation 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gym 117A – Mandatory for all new grad students and anyone else who has not had the orientation. Extensive resource packet. If not already done so, RSVP (415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu.

Feb. 2 (W) RLS Comprehensive Exam Orientation 5:30-7:30 p.m., Gym 117A – Mandatory for those taking Spring 2005 exam. If not already done so, RSVP (415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu by 1/31, 5 p.m.

Feb. 4 (F) If you have not done so at the end of the last semester, see your advisor for mandatory meeting and advising slip. A new policy requires you to show an advising slip to the instructor in order to stay enrolled in any REC graduate or undergraduate class.

Feb. 16 (W) Deadline for preliminary verbal notification of intent to take spring comps, to Dr. Tierney …12 noon. You still need to do written notification by due date.

Feb 18 (F) Last day for graduate students to file application for degree for May 28, 2005 commencement/graduation

Feb. 28 (M) Deadline to submit written intention to take comprehensive exam (to Dr. Tierney – 12 noon)

April 1 (F) Last day for graduate students planning to earn degree in Summer or Fall 2002 to file Graduate Approved Program (GAP) and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement. Forms in the Graduate Division Office

April 6 (W) Comprehensive examination ( 5:30-8:30 p.m.). If serious conflicts call me.

May 2 (M) Last day to file application for admittance to SFSU Graduate School in order to be admitted for Fall 2005. Contact RLS Department (415) 338-2030 or Dr. Tierney (ptierney@sfsu.edu)

May 20 (F) Last day to file approved thesis and/or Report of Completion of Culminating Experience Requirement. Forms in the Graduate Division office.

DATES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

January 29 BAEER Fair (Bay Area Environmental Education Resources Fair) has workshops on environmental education topics and over 90 exhibits of naturalist programs and school/outdoor adventure curriculums and services available.

Tba Ft. Miley Ropes Course training – Call Ezra at x86883 ASAP for other professional opportunities

February 18 Northern Chapter of Meetings Planners International, 15th Annual Trade Show. Santa Clara. No student rates. See: http://www.nccmpi.org.

February 22-25 American Camping Association Annual Conference. Orlando. See http://www.acacamps.org/conference/

March 12-14 West Region Association for Experiential Education (AEE) conference will be held in Santa Barbara. More info at www.aee.org or www.wraee.org by clicking on conferences and then West Region.

March 10-13 California/Pacific Southwest Parks and Recreation Annual Conference – Anaheim; (you may work at the conference in exchange for registration costs, depending on the number of hours you volunteer). Check out the conference schedule at http://www.cprs.org. We encourage you to attend. Attend interesting sessions, meet prospective employers and mentors.

June 1-5 World Environment Day. San Francisco. The first time this United National international conference will be held in the USA. Over 10,000 delegates from around the world are expected. See www.wed2005.org.

Watch the RLS department bulletin board upstairs and www.sfsu.edu/~recdept for many more conference and workshop announcements and scholarship information.

Last December the department received final approval of our revised graduate curriculum. It will begin in fall 2005, so will not have much of an affect on existing graduate students. Only students who become classified students beginning in fall 2005 and after will be required to follow this new program Existing graduate students need to follow the current graduate curriculum.

The revisions include a new mission statement, learning outcomes and revised course requirements. The new program structure and course rotation are shown below.

-REC 700 Orientation and Professional Development (1 unit, must be taken 1^st year). New addition to core.

-REC 720 Developing Collaborative Leaders In Leisure Services (3 units). New addition.

- -REC 810 Research Methods In Recreation and Leisure Services (3 units). Renumbered
from REC 710.

Selected courses with advisor approval (maximum 9 units upper division undergraduate classes). Existing requirement.

	Spring	Fall
2004	710 730	862 880
2005	710 730	700 720 850
2006	862 880	700 730 810
2007	720 850	700 862 880
2008	730 810	700 720 850

New Policy – Students can not change from one culminating experience option after first attempt and enroll to complete another culminating experience option. Once a student has provided written notice to Graduate Coordinator of intention to complete specific culminating experience option, either thesis or written comprehensive exam, they can not switch to the other culminating experience option.

ADVISING POLICY - Students enrolled in any graduate class offered by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies must show the instructor a copy of a recent (within 4 months) Advising Slip signed by your advisor, indicating that you are approved to take that specific graduate class. This must be done at the beginning of each semester." Getting an advising slip may be as easy as emailing your advisor at the beginning of the semester with your planned classes and letting him/her know that these class are consistent with your jointly-developed and previously approved program and class schedule, or if you have not developed a 1-2 year graduate program plan and course schedule then you will need to meet with the advisor. So if you have not already gotten an Advising Slip within the last 4-5 months please contact your advisor asap to get one, and then show it to your REC 700-800 class instructors.

It is imperative that all graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree in Recreation have or develop a writing proficiency. Both the university and department require that if a writing deficiency exists, the student shall be expected to complete prescribed courses in English to improve writing skills, grammar, composition, etc. at a level expected for students seeking to graduate with a Master’s degree.

The University Graduate Studies office requires that each graduate student must demonstrate the ability to write English correctly and effectively. To assure that each student has the desired proficiency in written English, two distinct assessments are required of each department offering a Master’s degree. For students in Recreation and Leisure Studies the requirements are (1) a successful ‘pass’ on the Graduate Essay Test (GET) upon entrance into the university and (2) successful ‘pass’ and completion of either a thesis or written comprehensive examination as an exit requirement.

If you need clarification about writing requirements please see your graduate advisor or myself. There are also many resources available to you on campus. For example, some students choose to take an optional English composition or a technical writing class to hone their skills. Always use your grammar and spell-checking software for your papers. I hope you find this reminder helpful and good luck with your graduate studies.

The department is pleased to announce that two new part-time graduate assistantships (GA) will be offered sometime starting in spring 2005. These competitive positions are designed to assist new graduate students in their first year in the program. The first GA will be working with the California Off-Highway Vehicle grant to assist in outreach and data collection. The second GA will be assisting the Pacific Leadership Institute with tasks ranging from ropes course leadership to research. Contact Dr. Tierney for more information on how to apply.

v If you’re interested in a certificate in Youth and Human Services Nonprofit Administration, see Dr. Erik Rosegard HSS 311, or email: rosegard@sfsu.edu.

v The Department is indeed fortunate to have an outstanding group of lecturers teaching classes this semester. Welcome back to Bob Flasher, Ezra Holland, Loretta Lowe, Susan Mirviss, Regina Neu, Sue Pon, Laura Rifkin, and Elaine Schilling.

v Dr. Patrick Tierney coordinates and teaches the commercial recreation tourism and resort management areas of our department. (HSS 309; Phone: 338-1818; email: ptierney@sfsu.edu )

v Outdoor/adventure types will want to see Dr. Erik Rosegard (HSS 311; Phone: 405-0911; email: rosegard@sfsu.edu )

v If interested in Adolescent and Childhood Development issues and classes, see Dr. Rene Dahl, (HSS 309; Phone: 338-7575; email: rdahl@sfsu.edu)

v Anyone interested in program evaluation projects should see Dr. Rene Dahl (HSS 309; Phone: 338-7575; email: rdahl@sfsu.edu) or Dr. Ginny Jaquith. Let them know of your interest and they will keep you in mind as they receive funding for projects with nonprofits and other agencies.

v Contact Ezra Holland (HHS 254; Phone: 338-2047) if you’re interested in teambuilding programs with Pacific Leadership Institute.

v See Drew McAdams (HHS 254; Phone: 338-6883; email: info@pliprogram.org) if you’re interested in the Ft. Miley Ropes Course training.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

v RLS is looking for graduate teaching assistants to help grade papers and course instructors. If interested, email ptierney@sfsu.edu or call Dr. Tierney, 338-1818.

v Department graduate faculty are: Dr. Rene Dahl, Dr. Ginny Jaquith, Dr. Erik Rosegard, Dr. Patrick Tierney, Elaine Schilling and Dr. Jim Murphy.

v Update your address, phone number (work and home), email address or web site. Give the information to Barbara Enes in the department office, Gym 207 (Phone: 338-2030; email: benes@sfsu.edu) If we don’t have current information, we can’t contact you, nor can you receive information that is pertinent to graduate school… but you are still responsible for it… Email is the primary means by which we will contact you.

v New students must take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) before beginning their 2^nd semester in the program. Register for this January or August exam in the university’s Testing Office. New students who do not take the test will not be allowed to continue in the program until this requirement is completed. If you do not pass GET you must enroll in a remedial class the next semester, either TPW 400, BUS 514, ENG 614 or if these are not available you must take a CHS 514 course through College of Extended Learning for an additional fee.

v You must complete any prerequisite conditions (as outlined on your dept. acceptance letter and university form) before you can become a classified graduate student. See your advisor.

v As soon as you complete 12 units of courses that qualify for the Graduate Approved Program (GAP), you must meet with your advisor to develop and file a completed GAP.

v Use your 699/899 Special Study units to maximum educational benefit. You are allowed 6 units on your GAP. Good possibilities for a Special Study course: special project or research paper or an in-depth examination of a specialty area. You must have advisor pre-approval and a completed/signed contract before signing up for Special Study courses.

v If you are thinking about writing a thesis, talk to your advisor. You most likely will need to take a statistics course. You and your advisor can determine the most appropriate type of culminating degree requirement for you, based on your professional interests, grade point average, and ability to work independently. Remember, the thesis is NOT a fallback option for those who don’t think they can pass the comprehensive exam – or for those who have failed the exam.

v If you plan to take comprehensive exams this semester contact Dr. Tierney immediately. Department policy requires that during the semester of your exam, if you are not enrolled in other classes, you must enroll in REC 897 (this class is only available through Extended Learning, so an additional fee).

v Get to know the department faculty and their research interests. You might stumble upon an opportunity to work as a research assistant or a teaching assistant. Faculty consistently get funding for grants, projects, and consulting work and may need skillful, responsible assistance from YOU … or they may know a professional who has job openings!

v See policies for comprehensive examination, computer competency requirement, and the statistics requirement for the thesis option on www.sfsu.edu/~recdept/gradhm.htm.

We hope you take advantage of this graduate school experience to stretch yourself, both intellectually and professionally. We are pleased to be working with you and look forward to continuing adventures in learning.

DATES UNIVERSITY/RLS DEPT. DEADLINES/EVENTS

DATES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

Watch the RLS department bulletin board upstairs and www.sfsu.edu/~recdept for many more conference and workshop announcements and scholarship information.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION