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 statewide 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
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.
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 Universitythemed 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