Mission, Vision, Philosophy and Strategic Plan for the Recreation, Park and Tourism

MISSION, VISION, PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AT WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Mission To provide dynamic and highly effective learning opportunities for personal and career development in an environment that encourages and facilitates scholarly and creative activity, while positively impacting the quality of life throughout the western Illinois region and beyond by serving the broad- based needs of the leisure services profession, including those organizations involved in service delivery.

Statement of Priority It is the position of the RPTA Department that its educational function is of highest priority, followed by a balance of planned attention and resource allocation in the areas of research and scholarly activity as well as professional service.

Philosophy

Leisure has gained recognition as an increasingly important aspect of American life. Scientific and technological advances; demographic trends; and socio-cultural, political, and economic factors have brought about rapid, almost revolutionary changes in the patterns of its distribution. Along with these changes, there has been a growing awareness of the potential leisure holds for contributing to peace and civility as well as enhancing the quality of life. All of these developments have influenced the philosophy, purposes, and goals of the Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Department.

The philosophy and purposes of the Department of RPTA are in accordance with those of Western Illinois University and the recreation and parks profession. Specifically, the areas of commitment identified by Western Illinois University and the College of Education and Human Services are teaching and learning, research, and service. The following discussion specifies the purposes and goals of the Department of RPTA relative to the College’s three areas of commitment.

Teaching: The undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration is designed to provide a basic foundation for entry to any of the various aspects of the total field. Provision is made for a minor and/or sufficient number of directed elective credits to enable individualization of programs of study according to each student’s educational goals and career aspirations. Areas of concentration include Management of Leisure Services, Management of Park Resources, Recreation Programming and Leadership, Therapeutic Recreation, Adventure Recreation and Camp Administration, and Tourism Management. An optimum mix of academic theory and practical application of that theory is a goal established for professional courses. In fulfilling this area of commitment, opportunities are provided to Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration majors to attain the capacity for leading personally fulfilling lives by developing a sound leisure ethic based on a thorough understanding of leisure services. Teaching skills vary; however, all members of the Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration faculty are expected to develop and refine such skills.

Research: Research is an area of commitment in the College of Education and Human Services and its various academic departments. Research that enhances the teaching and/or service functions of the university is strongly encouraged. Basic and applied research that contributes to the body of professional knowledge and provides insight to the solution of problems faced by recreation, park and tourism practitioners is of utmost importance to the Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration faculty. Development and refinement of competencies that will enable faculty to carry out research and scholarly activities is a goal of the Department of RPTA.

Service: The Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration maintains a strong commitment to professional service. Consistent with Western Illinois University’s overall concept of, and commitment to, regional and extended professional service, faculty members are encouraged to share their expertise by providing service through recognized channels to appropriate audiences. Recreation and park agencies and enterprises benefit from consultation provided by faculty members. On many occasions, students are involved in service-oriented activities that offer them experience in preparation for their future profession. Faculty members are encouraged to explore research questions and opportunities that are of special value to the citizens of Illinois. The RPTA faculty is encouraged to respond to the leadership needs of its professional organizations at the state, regional, and national levels. Alumni of the Department of RPTA also represent a very important “public” to be served.

Long Range Goals

I. To serve the educational needs of students by providing a dynamic and highly effective learning environment. Objectives • Maintain a high level of teaching performance by all members of the faculty, including graduate assistants, part-time instructors, and temporary members of the faculty. • Effectively utilize emeriti faculty in professional preparation of students. • Support student involvement and leadership in professional development opportunities on/beyond the WIU Campuses (Macomb & Quad Cities). • Increase involvement of outstanding practitioners in student learning experiences. • Enhance the impact of the Department in the General Education Curriculum. • Implement quantitative and qualitative assessment methods to measure student outcomes and professional preparation to improve program performance. • Seek feedback on curriculum from practitioners, coordinators, students, and alumni. • Upgrade the curriculum in response to changes and challenges of society and the profession. • Support and facilitate experiential learning (i.e.: RPTA 199 and 499,

ECOEE, Outdoor Recreation Consortium, Travel Workshops and community service projects embedded in courses). • Identify and participate in interdisciplinary experiences/programs.

II. To provide an environment that encourages scholarly and creative activity. Objectives • Increase faculty dissemination of scholarship. • Recognize faculty/student involvement in research and scholarly activity. • Support different forms of scholarship, creativity, and research. • Sustain internal and external support for research and scholarly activity. • Support scholarly and creative activity at the international level. • Encourage community-based learning and research. • Maintain a visible level of collaborative research/teaching/service among RPTA faculty members. • Encourage faculty/student presentations at university, state, regional, national and international conferences. • Sustain/enhance present library technology resources.

III. To positively impact the quality of life throughout the western Illinois region and beyond while servicing the broad-based needs of the leisure services profession, including those organizations involved in service delivery. Objectives • Establish partnerships and alliances to build upon the assets of rural Illinois to meet critical and regional needs. • Expand contributions to the professional development needs of Illinois practitioners, and where possible beyond Illinois. • Establish research/outreach focus relative to leisure over the lifespan. • Provide services to WIU, the western Illinois region, and the leisure services profession through Horn Field Campus (HFC) that includes leadership development, environmental education and environmental sciences, and sustainability. • Foster professional visibility of the RPTA Department through involvement in state, national and international organizations/associations.

IV. To recruit, retain and graduate a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students. Objectives • Strengthen undergraduate enrollment at the Macomb Campus. • Implement undergraduate enrollment strategies at the Quad Cities Campus. • Implement a graduate program in RPTA at the Quad Cities Campus. • Participate in a collaborative masters degree in Museum Studies with the Art Department on the Quad Cities Campus. • Create multicultural and career initiatives. • Engage undergraduate students in peer and professional mentoring. • Participate in the University’s First Year Experience for freshmen. • Sustain internal and external support for graduate assistantships. • Increase the number of graduate assistantships. • Upgrade and maintain a dynamic plan for recruitment of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students.

Strategic Plan

During the period under review, the University under the leadership of a new President entered into the development of a new strategic plan for the first time that had wide-based university participation over an 18-month period. Once completed and adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Colleges began work on their respective plans. After the College strategic plan, the individual Departments of the University crafted their strategic plans with guidance of a new Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs. The evolutionary nature of the process provided the context and landscape for our Department to move forward in a unified manner. The goals developed in 2.01:03 are the outcome of the University-wide effort to plan strategically and intentionally as an institution of higher learning. Activities reflective of the current status with each goal are summarized.

I. To serve the educational needs of students by providing a dynamic and highly effective learning environment.

Ongoing Activities:  Curriculum revision  Assessment plan development  Conduct advisory meetings  Reactivate the annual semester field-based experience, ECOEE (Environmental Conservation Outdoor Education Expedition)  Contribute to the University revision of the General Education curriculum  Provide student learning and development through annual spring conferences on both campuses involving practitioners and alumni  Support students on the National Student Branch of the NRPA  Encourage student participation and development through workshops and seminars provided by the Office of Student Activities  Support six departmental student organizations including Rho Phi Lambda  Fund student scholarships by emeriti faculty  Recognize outstanding students throughout the year by the faculty

II. To provide an environment that encourages scholarly and creative activity.

Ongoing Activities

 Recognize student academic achievements in the Department and College through 19 scholarship/award opportunities annually (refer to Appendix A)  Nominate students annually to five different community and state- wide scholarships  Involve students annually in the Spring University Undergraduate Research Day  Promote and encourage student participation in the Annual Gil Belles Book review within the Department  Participate in the annual Malpass Library Faculty Scholarship Day  Support student poster presentations at the annual state conference of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and the Illinois Association of Park Districts  Recognize faculty and student scholarship and presentations through the Department newsletter, RPTA News  Fund faculty participation to at least one conference annually  Participate in the Outdoor Recreation Consortium at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont with the University of Missouri-Columbia, East Carolina University, The North Carolina State University, and The Pennsylvania State University  Provide community-based learning and research with diverse Travel Workshops each semester

Ongoing Activities

 Provide training each semester for teams course, high-ropes, and climbing tower at HFC  Sponsor every spring break the nationally recognized Wilderness First-Responder course at HFC  Partner with College/University entities in sponsoring University- themed activities at HFC  Collaborate with a regional membership association to provide a volunteer expo in the Quad Cities  Participate in the management of the annual Big Brothers and Sisters Bowl-a-thon  Exhibit the Department at conferences  Support faculty and students on state/regional/national/international boards and committees  Host the annual Summer Camp Job Fair with the American Camp Association Sections, Illinois, Wisconsin, St. Louis, and Great River  Collaborate with the Macomb Park District, Disability Support Services and Campus Recreation in providing a therapeutic horseback riding program  Sponsor in partnership with Disability Support Services and Campus Recreation through the Student Therapeutic Recreation Society annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

IV. To recruit, retain and graduate a diverse group of undergraduate and

graduate students.

Ongoing Activities

 Support an on-going mentoring program for students with practitioners in the Quad Cities  Design a three-year schedule of classes to support students in the Quad Cities  Develop brochures/fact sheets for Department  Distribute “Benefit” CD’s to QC and Black Hawk Community College  Partner with Black Hawk Community College for student articulation to the QC  Present to students/classes at Moraine Valley Community College  Exhibit at grade school, high school and community college information fairs