Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies Graduate Student Newsletter
Spring Semester 2004

 January 26, 2004

 Dear RLS Graduate Student:

Welcome back to SFSU and the spring semester! And a special welcome to all our new graduate students Sarutsa Asavachaisophon, Tahmal Flemming, Maria Guzman, Jeff Heiser, Janis Kaempfe, Brian Stensler 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 and find your answer by 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 graduate website, check it out! It has a new look and content courtesy of fellow graduate student, Doug Kaplan. I want to acknowledge the great deal of creative energy and work that Doug put into this project. Hopefully you find it more useful. For example, to make this easier there are both new and continuing student sections.

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.

One item of discussion in this newsletter is the impact of the state budget crisis on SFSU and RLS courses. See the following for details.

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.

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. 28 (W) First day of instruction

Jan. 28 (W) RLS Comprehensive Exam Orientation 5:30-6:30 p.m., Gym 117A - Mandatory for those taking Spring 2004 exam. RSVP (415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu by 1/27, 5 p.m.

Jan. 28 (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 1/27, 5 p.m.

Feb. 4-6 (W-F) Social Aspects and Recreation Research Symposium (SARR) held at the Presidio of SF and SFSU. DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to attend a national conference and learn from a host of international presenters. Special $15 registration rate for SFSU students. See www.sarrsymp.org for more details. If you have sign-up to volunteer, than you and see you at the symposium.

Feb. 6 (F) If you have not done so during 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. 13 (F) Last day to add

Feb. 10 (M) Graduate internships begin

Feb. 11 (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 20 (F) Last day for graduate students to file application for degree for May 24,
2003 graduation

Feb. 24 (T) Last day to drop courses

Feb. 23 (M) Deadline to submit written intention to take comprehensive exam (to Dr.
Tierney - 12 noon)

March 22-27 SPRING RECESS all week

April 1 (Th) 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 5 (M) Comprehensive examination( 5:30-8:30 p.m.). If serious conflicts call me.

May 3 (M) Last day to file application for admittance to SFSU Graduate School in order to be admitted for Fall 2004. Contact RLS Department (415) 338-2030 or Dr. Tierney (ptierney@sfsu.edu)

May 6 (Th) Program advising (get some)

May 19 (W) Graduate internship ends

May 19 (W) Last day to file approved thesis and/or Report of Completion of Culminating Experience Requirement. Forms in the Graduate Division office.

May 19 (F) Last day of instruction

May 21, 24-28 Final Examinations

May 29 (Sat) Commencement

DATES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

January 31 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 4-6 Social Aspects and Recreation Research Symposium (SARR) held at the Presidio of SF and SFSU. DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to attend a national conference and learn from a host of international presenters. Special $15 registration rate for SFSU students. See www.sarrsymp.org for more details. If you have sign-up to volunteer, than you and see you at the symposium.

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 24-27 American Camping Association Annual Conference. SAN FRNACISCO. See http://www.acacamps.org/conference/

February 27 East Bay Funders Fair For Non-Profits, Friday, Oakland. See http://www4.compasspoint.org.

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. I encourage you to attend. Attend interesting sessions, meet prospective employers and mentors.

April 22 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.

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NEWS

" The Department and RLS faculty have settled into their new offices. The RLS office is HSS 307 and others are nearby.

" A happy 1st birthday Ethan Rosegard. 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 is back teaching this semester, as part of her early retirement program.

" If you have not done so already stop by and say hello to Dr. Jim Murphy our RLS chair. If you hear him mumbling numbers in the hall, it is due to the budget crisis.

" Dr. Don Taylor continues with his temporary appointment as Associate Dean in CHHS. He says he will be back teaching in fall.

" Dr. Patrick Tierney has been coordinating the SARR conference and hopes to see you there. He enjoyed telemark skiing in that 6 feet of power snow over the break.

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

*** The current state budget crisis and recent university budget mandates have forced the RLS Department, after much discussion, to make difficult curriculum decisions. So I have bad news but also some good news. The following were approved by the RLS Faculty on 1/23/04.

* RLS will not support classes required exclusively for Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Certification (REC 609, REC 610) with exception described below
* RLS will eliminate the TR emphasis at the undergraduate level

That was the bad news, now for the good news:

* We will continue to offer REC 410 and REC 445
* We will work towards shifting the current TR focus to more of a "holistic leisure wellness" orientation, away from a clinic direction. Many graduate students have expressed support for a wellness orientation.
* REC 750 will be changed to REC 650 and be offered every 3rd semester.
* REC 650 will be a graduate program elective, available for undergraduates to take and the attempt will be to offer it in the graduate course rotation
* No other course eliminations are proposed, but this assumes the state does not make further budget cuts in SFSU funding AND the two state budget propositions (57 and 58) pass.

These approved actions mean that grad. students counting on taking REC 609 will be impacted because it will NOT be offering it in the spring 2004 semester and there are no plans to offer it in the near future. The Department plans to offer REC 610 one last time, through the College of Extended Learning, in either the fall of 2004 or the spring 2005 semester to help existing students with a TR emphasis graduate. If budgets remain as planned and there is a minimum enrollment of about 10 students then REC 610 is likely to be offered.

The Department also is gathering information about TR classes being offered at other regional universities to assist students. Contact Dr. Murphy (jfmurphy@sfsu.edu or 338-1531) for information on regional TR offerings.

The faculty felt we had no other good choice than to make the decision regarding the TR emphasis in light of budget realities. These course reductions were the least harmful to the overall undergraduate and graduate programs. We are sorry if these adversely impact you, our valued students, and we will endeavor to help you through these tough times in education. It also implies that voter support for propositions 57 and 58 will be critical to avoid any more course and student service reductions. To find out more about prop 57 and 58 and the other fiscal propositions to be on the March 2 and November 2 ballots see todays SF Chronicle or click on http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/26/BAG2C4HM0C1.DTL.

" The RLS Graduate Program has undergone an extensive program review during the spring and fall of 2003, including a visit by a team of outside reviewers. Based on the substantial data collected from faculty, students, the profession and outside reviewers we have proposed a new mission statement and major structural changes to the graduate program for fall 2004. These changes have not been approved yet and will not directly affect any existing classified graduate students, as you are under the current program. Here is a final chance for you to give us feedback on the proposal. See www.sfsu.edu/~recdept/gradproposal.htm for details about the proposal. Contact me or any RLS faculty member with your suggestions and ideas.

" 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.

" 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.

" 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 Ezra Holland (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

" 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.

" Department graduate faculty are: Dr. Rene F. Dahl, Dr. Ginny Jaquith, Dr. Erik Rosegard, Dr. Patrick Tierney, Dr. Jim Murphy 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).

" 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 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.

On behalf of the graduate faculty,

Patrick Tierney, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Coordinator