Program Detail

Eastern Kentucky University

Department of Recreation & Park Administration

Dr. Jon McChesney, Chair & Professor
Email
208 Combs Building
521 Lancaster Ave
Richmond, KY  40475-3100
(859) 622-1835

Accredited Program

  • BS Recreation and Park Administration
    Initial Accreditation: 4/10/1980
    Next Review: Fall 2030
    Accreditation Status: Continued Accreditation
    Program Accreditation Status
    2024 Annual Report
    2023 Annual Report
    2022 Annual Report
    2021 Annual Report




    • EKU's Department of Parks, Recreation, Exercise and Sport Science was established in 1967, and received initial NRPA accreditation in 1980. RPA offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Park Administration with four concentrations: Tourism and Resort Recreation, Recreation Management and Event Planning, Recreation Therapy & Outdoor Recreation & Natural Resources Management.

    COAPRT Standard 7.01. - Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy.
    • Outcome:
      Outcome 1 from Standard 7.01: Student Scholarship, Conduct research that contributes to the knowledge base of the represented disciplines in local, state, national, and international venues. (COAPRT 4.07, 5.06, 7.01a & 7.01).
    • Measure Type:
      Direct
    • Assessment Method:
      Outcome 1 Assessment Method: Number of student presenters at a professional conference.
    • Result:
      Outcome 1 Result: During 2023, 39 professional presentations were made by faculty involving students. 52.7% of RPA undergraduate students had a research experience that resulted in dissemination at a professional conference.
    COAPRT Standard 7.02. - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
    • Outcome:
      Outcome 2 from Standard 7.02: REC 460 Advanced Leadership and Programming students will demonstrate competencies in management, operations, event planning and recreation programming (COAPRT 7.01a, 7.01b, 7.01c, 7.02 & 7.03)
    • Measure Type:
      Direct
    • Assessment Method:
      Outcome 2 Assessment Method: Entire faculty analysis of student evaluation of the Halloween Hoedown event using Bloom’s Taxonomy-Critical Thinking and
    • Result:
      Outcome 2 Result: For 2023, students exceeded the criterion for Event Energy (mean=3.24); Marketing and Promotion (mean=3.15); however Risk Management/Site Analysis was slightly below the criterion (mean of 2.95).
    COAPRT Standard 7.03. - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions..
    • Outcome:
      Outcome 3 from Standard 7.03: During Senior Internship (REC 463), students will demonstrate their ability to put into practice the knowledge and understanding required in major course work and previous Fieldwork experience by successfully completing a significant project for their agency.
    • Measure Type:
      Direct
    • Assessment Method:
      Data examined by RPA faculty as a collective.
    • Result:
      Outcome 3 Result: For 2023, 15 students completed 7,280 hours of senior internship experience and service to area communities. Of those 15 students, the mean score for the Senior Internship Project was 94 out of a possible 100 points indicating success in critical thinking, communication skills and effective application of classroom and experiential knowledge; (a decrease from 99/100 the previous year).