Department of Recreation and
Leisure Studies
Graduate Student Newsletter
Spring 2002
January
17, 2002
Dear
Graduate Student:
Welcome
back to SFSU and the spring semester! And a special welcome to all our new
graduate students Vinzuela Bolden, Danielle Fabela, Jennifer Garrison, Mary
Huntley “and any others who may have been admitted late.”. Hope you all had a
good holiday.
I
want to let you know that I have assumed the role of grad program coordinator.
As you may know, our beloved Dr. Bill Michaelis is on early retirement and
teaches only in Fall. So 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 Gym 211. 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.
Jan.
28 (M) First
day of instruction
Feb.
6 (W)
RLS Comprehensive Exam Orientation 5:30-6:30 p.m., Gym 117A – Mandatory
for those taking Spring 2002 exam. RSVP
(415) 338-1818 or ptierney@sfsu.edu by
2/5, 5 p.m.
Feb. 6
(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 2/5, 5
p.m.
Feb.
8 (F) Last
day to pay fees
Feb.
8 (F) Last
day to add
Feb.
11 (M)
Graduate internships begin
Feb. 13 (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 (M)
Holiday – Presidents’ Day
Feb
22 (F) Last
day for graduate students to file application for degree for May 25,
2002 graduation
Feb. 25 (M)
Last day to drop courses
Feb.
25 (M)
Deadline to submit written intention to take comprehensive exam
(to Dr. Tierney
– 12 noon)
March 25-30
SPRING RECESS all week
April 2
(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 3 (W)
Comprehensive examination (7-10:00 p.m.) or earlier if everyone
can do it and a room is available
May
9 (Th)
Program advising (get some)
May 10
(F)
Graduate internship ends
May 14
(T)
Last day to file application for admittance to SFSU Graduate School in
order to be admitted for Fall 2002. Contact RLS Department (415) 338-2030 or Dr.
Tierney (ptierney@sfsu.edu)
May 17
(F)
Last day to file approved thesis and/or Report of Completion of
Culminating Experience Requirement. Forms
in the Graduate Division office.
May 17
(F)
Last day of instruction
May
18, 20-24 Final Examinations
May 25
(Sat)
Commencement
DATES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
Ft. Miley Ropes Course training – Call
Ezra at x86883 ASAP for other professional opportunities
March
2 (Sat)
Redondo
Beach Best of Cooperative Play for all Ages (1/2 day) and Positive
Discipline (1/2 day) workshops –
Call Bill x87576 ASAP
for further information.
April 3-6
California/Pacific Southwest Parks and Recreation Annual Conference – Los Angeles; (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
7-11
California Conference on Tourism. See www.cactia.com
April
11-13
California School Age Care & Recreation Conference, Sacramento;
Contact CAL SAC (415) 957-9775 ASAP
April 20
Earth Day. See: earthday@calparks.org
April
26,27
Redondo Beach Family Fun Fest, Positive Play Leadership training; Contact
Bill ASAP, x87576
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
RLS
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
Contact
the following faculty and staff to find out more about various program offerings
and department-sponsored projects.
v
If
you’re interested in obtaining a certificate in Youth and Human Services
Nonprofit Administration, see Dr. Jaquith in Gym 205. Phone:
338-2030; email: ginnyj@sfsu.edu
v
If
you’re interested in recreation therapy as a specialized area of study and
career, see Dr. Jaquith, or Laura Rifkin (338-2030).
v
Dr.
Patrick Tierney coordinates and teaches the commercial recreation tourism and
resort management areas of our department.
(Gym 211; Phone: 338-1818;
email: ptierney@sfsu.edu
)
v
Outdoor/adventure
types will want to see Dr. Erik Rosegard (Gym 212; Phone:
405-0911; email: rosegard@sfsu.edu )
v
If
interested in Adolescent and Childhood Development issues and classes, see Dr.
Rene Dahl, (Gym 104; Phone: 338-7575; email: rdahl@sfsu.edu)
v
Anyone
interested in program evaluation projects should see Dr. Rene Dahl (Gym 104;
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
Edwin Tse (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: ezra@sfsu.edu ) if
you’re interested in the Ft. Miley Ropes Course training.
OTHER
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
v
Department
graduate faculty are: Dr. Rene F.
Dahl, Dr. Ginny Jaquith, Dr. Erik Rosegard, Dr. Patrick Tierney, and Dr. Bill
Michaelis.
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 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.
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 GAP, you must meet with
your advisor to develop and file a completed plan.
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
The RLS
is looking for a Grad Student Webpage Webmaster who will improve and
update our site. Training available. Call Pat 338-1818.
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
RLS is
looking for graduate teaching assistants to help grade papers and course
instructors. If interested, call Dr. Tierney, 338-1818.
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 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,
Patrick
Tierney, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Coordinator