Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
Graduate Student Newsletter
Spring 2003

January 30, 2003

Dear RLS Graduate Student:

Welcome back to SFSU and the spring semester! And a special welcome to all our new graduate students Paul O'Connor and Jennifer Ruff and any others who may have been admitted late. Hope you all had a good holiday.

I am continuing on as grad. program coordinator with the able assistance of Dr. Michaelis. As you may know, Dr. Bill is on early retirement and teaches only in Fall. 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 new office HSS 309. Also look at the revised RLS Grad Student website, http://www.sfsu.edu/~recdept/html/gradhm.htm for news, deadlines, research opportunities and more.

This welcome back letter contains important information for you to note and write down in your over-flowing appointment book and department news. 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.

In the future 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 it absolutely important that you obtain an email account (they are free at SFSU, but your email does not need to be through SFSU) and check it regularly. Make sure we have your most up-to-date email address by emailing the department at benes@sfsu.edu. This doesn't mean we won't call you or are impersonal, but we are in line with the internet being the dominant form of information transfer in the workplace today.

Message From The RLS Department Chair

Graduate Program Writing Requirement

In the interest of assisting graduate students be successful in their program at SFSU I am writing about an important element of it. It is imperative that all graduate students pursuing a Master's degree in Recreation have or develop a writing proficiency.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. James Murphy
Chair, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

DATES UNIVERSITY/RLS DEPT. DEADLINES/EVENTS
Jan. 27 (M) First day of instruction

Feb. 5 (W) RLS Comprehensive Exam Orientation 5:30-6:30 p.m., Gym 117A - Mandatory for those taking Spring 2003 exam. RSVP (415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu by 2/4, 5 p.m.

Feb. 5 (W) New Grad Orientation 7-8:30 p.m., Gym 117A - Mandatory for all new grad students and anyone else who has not had the orientation. Extensive resource packet. RSVP (415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu by 2/4, 5 p.m.

Feb. 7 (F) If you have not done so recently, see your advisor for mandatory meeting and advising slip.

Feb. 7 (F) Last day to add

Feb. 10 (M) Graduate internships begin
Feb. 12 (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 21 (F) Last day for graduate students to file application for degree for May 24,
2003 graduation

Feb. 21 (F) Last day to drop courses

Feb. 24 (M) Deadline to submit written intention to take comprehensive exam (to Dr.
Tierney - 12 noon)

March 17-22 SPRING RECESS all week

April 1 (T) 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 2 (W) Comprehensive examination (7-10:00 p.m.). If serious conflicts call me.

May 8 (Th) Program advising (get some)

May 9 (F) Graduate internship ends

May 15 (Th) Last day to file application for admittance to SFSU Graduate School in order to be admitted for Fall 2003. Contact RLS Department (415) 338-2030 or Dr. Tierney (ptierney@sfsu.edu)

May 16 (F) Last day to file approved thesis and/or Report of Completion of Culminating Experience Requirement. Forms in the Graduate Division office.

May 16 (F) Last day of instruction

May 17, 19-23 Final Examinations

May 24 (Sat) Commencement

DATES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

February 7 Graduate student and faculty party. 7-9pm. Dr. Tierney's house, Half Moon Bay. RSVP by Wed. Feb. 5.

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

February 12 Northern Chapter of Meetings Planners International, 15th Annual Trade Show. Santa Clara. No student rates. See: http://www.nccmpi.org.

February 15 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. It costs $7. Cordinator is Ken Hanley, kenpacx@pacbell.net.

February 19-22 American Camping Association Annual Conference. Denver. See http://www.acacamps.org/conference/

February 28 East Bay Funders Fair For Non-Profits, Friday, February 28th. See http://www4.compasspoint.org.

March 5 Best Practices 2003 Conference; "Leading Together in Uncertain Times." See http://www.tmcenter.org/programs/bp03/bp03.html

March 7-9 West Region Association for Experiential Education (AEE) conference will be held in Santa Cruz on March 7-9. More info at www.aee.org or www.wraee.org by clicking on conferences and then West Region.

March 20-22 California/Pacific Southwest Parks and Recreation Annual Conference - San Jose; (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. I encourage you to attend. Attend interesting sessions, meet prospective employers and mentors.

April 19 Earth Day. See: earthday@calparks.org

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

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NEWS

" The Department and RLS faculty have moved to new offices over the winter break. The RLS office is HSS 307 and others are nearby. If you hear the reply "I can't find it, I think it is still in a box," now you know why.

" A warm congratulations to Dr. Erik Rosegard and his wife on the birth of their son Ethan! Everyone is healthy. If Erik seems a little tired, now you know why.

" Dr. Rene Dahl continues Coordinator of the Adolescent and Childhood Development Program in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at SFSU.

" Dr. Bill Michaelis is on early retirement and does not teach classes in spring. But he still encourages grad students to contact him any time via phone 338-7576.

" Dr. Ginny Jacquith continues on as Department Chair this semester. She has "survived" the Las Vegas American Humanics conference and is ready to assist you.

" Dr. Deah Schwartz is still not able to teach this spring semester. As you may know she was injured last year and had to drop her teaching load. She is undergoing physical therapy and we all wish her the best!

" We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jim Murphy will be coming back to teach REC 862.

" Dr. Don Taylor continues with his temporary appointment as Associate Dean in CHHS. We hope to see him back full time next semester.

" Dr. Patrick Tierney has completed his research for the US Forest Service on northern California resident outdoor recreation use patterns and preferences and is now a snowboarder!

RLS DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Contact the following faculty and staff to find out more about various program offerings and department-sponsored projects.

" If you're interested in obtaining a certificate in Youth and Human Services Nonprofit Administration, see Dr. Jaquith in HSS 307. Phone: 338-2030; email: ginnyj@sfsu.edu

" NEW 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.

" If you're interested in recreation therapy as a specialized area of study and career, see Dr. Jaquith,.

" 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 )

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

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

" 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.

" Contact Edwin Tse (HHS 254; Phone: 338-2047) if you're interested in teambuilding programs with Pacific Leadership Institute.

" See Drew McAdams (HHS 254; Phone: 338-6883; email: ezra@sfsu.edu ) if you're interested in the Ft. Miley Ropes Course training.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
" Department graduate faculty are: Dr. Rene F. Dahl, Dr. Ginny Jaquith, Dr. Erik Rosegard, Dr. Patrick Tierney, and Dr. Bill Michaelis.

" 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.

" New students must take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) before beginning their 2nd 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.

" 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.

" As soon as you complete 12 units of courses that qualify for the GAP, you must meet with your advisor to develop and file a completed plan.

" 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.

" 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.

" If you plan to take comprehensive exams this semester contact Dr. Tierney immediately. Department policy requires that during the semester of your exam you must enroll in REC 897 (this class is only available through Extended Learning, so an additional fee).

" 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.

" 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!

" See attached policies on the comprehensive examination, the computer competency requirement, and the statistics requirement for the thesis option.

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.

On behalf of the graduate faculty,

Pat Tierney, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Coordinator