Course Syllabus

RECREATN 450/650, Design, Maintenance, and Management of Recreation Facilities

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

Department of HPRC

Instructor:Dr. Thomas F. Gustafson

telephone-262-472-1649

office-WC 132

Office Hours:TBA

Credits:3

Course Time andTBA

Location:

Required texts:none

Course Description:This course will introduce management theories and provide practical experience in the design, development, operation, maintenance, and administration of various recreation facilities.

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Pre-design, design, construction, and renovation

2. Conduct facility feasibility studies

3. Identify and demonstrate area and facility management skills

4. Understand recreation facility and park design and their relationship to program planning and usage

5. Identify and apply labor standards and laws pertinent to recreation facilities

6. Interpret equipment needs, purchases, and maintenance

7. Understand management of facility personnel

Course content and schedule

Week 1Introduction to facility planning, design, and management process

Week 2Feasibility study, needs assessment, relationship to existing facilities

Week 3Architectural guidelines/requirements, federal, state, and local regulations

Week 4Demographic data and site development

Week 5Master planning, initiating design and construction, program statement development

Week 6Specification sheets, selection and working with architect, construction phase, and building committee

Week 7Midterm examination, Principles and concepts of indoor and outdoor facilities

Week 8Facility complexes, health and fitness facilities, sport facilities

Week 9Recreation centers, parks, Aquatic facilities

Week 10Technical considerations, natural vs. artificial surfaces, lighting, HVAC, pedestrian and motor traffic patterns

Week 11Spectator/nonparticipant amenities, ancillary spaces, participantamenities

Week 12Health and safety considerations, general risk management

Week 13ADA, Title IX, and OSHA, facility and equipment/negligence and product liability

Week 14Facility and personnel management

Week 15 Presentation of graduate student projects

Undergraduate course requirements:

  1. Read and critique two articles pertaining to facility design from 2 different journals or magazines. Critiques should be approximately 23 pages in length, double spaced, in 12 point font, and be accompanied by a copy of the article. The critique should contain a summary of the article and any personal observations that you have.
  1. Select and visit one site relating to your interest, excluding UWW facilities, facilities with which you have prior experience, and facilities that were toured during regular class periods. This should include a brief description of the facility, the function of the facility, the observed strengths and weaknesses of the facility, and suggestions that you would make as a result of your observations.
  1. Midterm and final examinations. Please note: Once the exam begins, students will not be allowed to leave the classroom until they have finished the exam. There will be no bathroom breaks. Students leaving the classroom will be presumed to have completed the exam. Any student either talking or text messaging on a cell phone during an examination will be asked to leave the classroom and will receive a zero for that exam. There are no exceptions.

Graduate course requirements:

  1. Content (What are additional presentation/project requirements?)

Graduate students will plan and create a recreation/sport facility of their choice. They will complete a literature review of facility design, acquire skills in Turbo CAD (Computer Aided Design) or an equivalent program and provide a physical layout of the facility. Student will then provide a management plan to include a feasibility study, organizational structure, and marketing plan. A presentation to the class will accompany the written product.

  1. Intensity (How are the processes and standards of evaluation different for graduates and undergraduates?)

Evaluation of the graduate project is unique, and 30% of the graduate grade is weighted to the graduate project.

  1. Self-Directed (How are research expectations differ for graduates and undergraduates?)

Review of literature to support facility design and management plan are above and beyond the undergraduate expectations. Students are allowed to focus on a facility related to their own professional goals for development.

  1. Read and critique two articles pertaining to facility design from 2 different journals or magazines. Critiques should be approximately 23 pages in length, double spaced, in 12 point font, and be accompanied by a copy of the article. The critique should contain a summary of the article and any personal observations that you have.
  1. C. Plan and create a recreation/sport facility of your choice. Graduate students are expected to review literature in facility design, acquire skills in Turbo CAD (Computer Aided Design) or an equivalent program and provide a physical layout of the facility. Student will then provide a management plan to include a feasibility study, organizational structure, and marketing plan. Details and components of evaluation will be provided.
  1. Midterm and final examinations. Please note: Once the exam begins, students will not be allowed to leave the classroom until they have finished the exam. There will be no bathroom breaks. Students leaving the classroom will be presumed to have completed the exam. Any student either talking or text messaging on a cell phone during an examination will be asked to leave the classroom and will receive a zero for that exam. There are no exceptions.

Undergraduate student evaluation

Article critiques15% each

Site visit20%

Examinations25% each

Graduate student evaluation

Article critiques15% each

Facility plan30%

Exams20% each

Grading scale

A94-100

A-90-93

B+87-89

B83-86

B-80-82

C+77-79

C73-76

C-70-72

D+67-69

D63-66

D-60-62

F59 and below

There will be a grammar, punctuation, and writing component in the evaluation of the assignments, where applicable.

Classroom Decorum: Please note the following regarding cell phones. Students are expected to turn cell phones off while in class. Students who answer cell phones during class, will be asked to leave for the day and will not be credited with attendance for that day.

Expectation: We expect students to do their own work on all graded material submitted for all departmental course requirements.

Subject to change, if necessary

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes; the “Rights and Responsibilities” section of the Undergraduate Catalog; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog; and the “Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures (UWS Chapter 14); and the “Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).