CRA Convention Institute: Evidence and Improvement in Campus Recreation and Athletics

Providing evidence of achievement of intended outcomes and information to guide quality enhancement is now an expectation of all areas of higher education.  In Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics, the need to provide senior administrators and governing bodies proof of the value these departments and programs add to the experience of college students is vital for today’s institutions.  This institute is intended to offer professionals a framework as well as strategies and practical tools for running a Campus Recreation and Athletics departments that are evidence and outcomes driven.  Additionally, the institute will provide assistance in the development of an assessment plan, learning about CAS standards in these areas, and programming towards the achievement of intended learning outcomes.   The five programs that make up the institute are listed below.

Program I: Exploring Evidence and Improvement Issues in Campus Recreation and Athletics
Monday, March 28, 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM; Baltimore Convention Center – 329
Panel of leaders facilitated by Kathleen Hill, East Carolina University & Mike Fulford, Georgia Institute of Technology
Assessment of institutional effectiveness and quality assurance are expected in all areas of higher education, including the contexts of campus recreation and intercollegiate athletics. This institute is intended to offer senior administrators, practitioners, and researchers with an assessment framework as well as strategies and practical tools for developing a culture of evidence and improvement. A panel of national leaders will discuss what is known about how participation in campus recreation and intercollegiate athletics impacts students, as well as identify key issues and problems that need exploration to inform evidence and improvement efforts.

Program II: Using CAS Standards in Campus Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics
Monday, March 28, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM; Baltimore Convention Center – 329
Laura Dean, University of Georgia
The Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in Higher Education has established standards and guidelines to provide direction and strategy for positively impacting student learning, institutional effectiveness, outcomes assessment, and quality assurance. This program will introduce the CAS Standards for Recreational Sports and prospective development of functional standards specific to Athletics. Discussion will also be anchored to the six student learning and development domains revised in the 7th edition of CAS Standards.

Program III: Building the Bridge Between Student Development Theory and Athletics Engagement
Monday, March 28, 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM; Baltimore Convention Center – 329
Mike Fulford, Georgia Institute of Technology
Athletics departments offer programs, such as CHAMPS/Life Skills and the Total Person Concept, that are uniquely designed to support student-athletes in their sport participation as well as their personal, academic, and career growth. The student development theories that anchor student affairs practice can also be applied to the missions and
intended outcomes articulated by athletic programs. This program will explore the theoretical bridge connecting student affairs best practice and engagement in athletics.

Program IV: Aligning Learning Outcomes and Transferable Skills Development in Campus Recreation
Monday, March 28, 1:30 PM - 02:30 PM;  Baltimore Convention Center – 329
Michael Edwards, Georgia Institute of Technology
Campus Recreation can play a primary role on university campuses by assisting students in the development of knowledge and competencies sought by employers and necessary to meaningful contributions to our global society. Through a variety of experiential learning offerings in outdoor recreation programs, sport clubs, intramurals and
departmental employment, students can develop effective communication skills, leadership capacity, and multi-
cultural competency. This program will explore how to intentionally design and implement educationally purposeful experiences in alignment with learning outcomes.

Program V: Developing Strategic Assessment Plans for Campus Recreation and Athletics Programs
Monday, March 28, 3:00 PM - 04:00 PM; Baltimore Convention Center – 329
Kathleen Hill, East Carolina University
This program serves as a capstone for the Evidence and Improvement in Campus Recreation and Athletics Institute. Participants will engage with an assessment planning model that integrates and operationalizes mission, goals, outcomes, inputs, strategies, and action steps thereby leading to the development of a strategic assessment plan specific to their campus context.

CRA Directorate Annual Meeting

Sunday, March 27, 1:00 – 5:00 PM; Hilton Baltimore – Brent
Scott Hirko, Central Michigan University/Michigan State University

CRA Convention Sponsored Programs

A Study of the Experiences of Black Female Student Athletes
Monday, March 28, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM; Baltimore Convention Center - 339
Noel S. Harmon, Institute for Higher Education Policy
The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather descriptive data on the experiences of Black female student athletes. Four major themes emerged from the data: Unfulfilled expectations; perceptions of being treated differently from her White female peers; complex relationships; and positive and negative forms of resistance. Five implications for student affairs practice and programming are introduced and discussed.

Effects of Team Climate on Substance Use of College Student-Athletes
Tuesday, March 29, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM; Baltimore Convention Center – 321
Jennifer Eileen Tomon, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Research shows that college student-athletes experience higher rates of substance use than their non-athlete peers and that variation in substance use exists on the basis of sport/team affiliation. Based on the results of a study on the effects of team climate on substance use behaviors, perceptions, and attitudes of college student-athletes, this presentation discusses implications for student affairs professionals seeking to address substance use among the student-athlete population through practices grounded in social learning theory and the social norms approach.

The Experiences of Non-Straight Football Players at FBS Colleges
Tuesday, March 29, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM; Baltimore Convention Center - 315
Lawrence J. Mrozek, The Ohio State University and Elizabeth Burns, Sinclair Community College
Football is considered the flagship of college sports and college sports are considered the “front porch of the university.” With this high profile comes a concern then with the public “image” of the football program and its football players who are expected to exhibit a hyper-masculine persona. This presentation will review the findings from a study that explored the lived experiences of students who played football at FBS elite level schools and present strategies on assisting this group of students.

Towards an Intercollegiate Study of Retention Among Student Athletes
Tuesday, March 29, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM; Baltimore Convention Center – 317
Jeffrey Van Lone,  David Mapstone, & Brian Mistler;  Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Although participation in college athletics is an enriching experience for many college students, we know that some athletes become disengaged from their sport and subsequently are at risk of leaving their institution. Attendees at this presentation will learn more about the phenomena of athlete disengagement. Presenters will review specific variables associated with student athlete disengagement and attrition. Preliminary data will be shared and attendees will be invited to participate in a national study.

Wheelchair Athletes: Power Soccer and the Collegiate Experience
Wednesday, March 30, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM; Baltimore Convention Center – 316
Roger D. Wessel, Ball State University and Joel Wentz, University of New England
Participation in intercollegiate athletics provides opportunities to improve societal perceptions and quality of life of students with physical disabilities. Athletic opportunities encourage these students to be physically, socially, and psychologically engaged. This program highlights results from a 2010 qualitative study regarding how involvement in a Power Soccer collegiate athletic club influenced the collegiate experience of students in power wheelchairs. The data provides insight into the experiences of students using power wheelchairs and how colleges can meet their needs.