MS-RSI_Graduate-Program-and-Assistantships

The Master’s Degree in Recreation Services and Interventions at East Carolina University Have you ever thought about directing a clinical recreational therapy department, city parks and

The University

East Carolina University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System and has an enrollment of over 27,000 students, making it North Carolina’s third largest

institution of higher learning The main campus is adjacent to downtown Greenville, NC, a city

of over 70,000 people Greenville is the hub of the eastern North Carolina coastal plain and a business, medical, and educational center It is 80 miles east of Raleigh, the state capital,

accessible by highway and nearby airports, and within easy driving distances of coastal resorts and the Outer Banks and numerous rivers

The Master’s Degree in Recreation Services and Interventions at East Carolina University

Have you ever thought about directing a clinical recreational therapy department, city parks and recreation program, YMCA, or commercial recreation operation? Do you have an interest in combining a degree that focuses on quality of life along with administration?

ECU offers a master of science in recreation services and interventions with two concentrations: recreation and park administration and recreational therapy administration

East Carolina's RSI degree program allows you to work closely with faculty and other graduate students to learn and grow in the profession or prepare you for doctoral school The program offers opportunities to learn hands-on, in-the-trenches skills and techniques as well as conduct research alongside faculty This MS program will assist you in learning administrative and research skills to serve you in any direction you choose The MS degree has two concentrations: recreation and park administration (RPA) and recreational therapy administration (RTA)

The RPA concentration provides coursework and studies related to parks and recreation in

government, outdoor recreation, tourism, commercial recreation, nonprofit organizations, and a host of other settings to enhance quality of life for all

The RTA concentration is for those wishing to enhance their skills and understanding of

providing recreational therapy in a wide range of clinical settings This allied health focused

Admission

Applicants must have an overall GPA (grade point average) of 2.70 in their undergraduate

studies, score at or above the 30th percentile Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (see

www.gre.org for testing times, and preparation software) or Miller’s Analogies Test (MAT) (see https://www.pearsonassessments.com/postsecondaryeducation/graduate_admissions/mat.html for more information) for admission to regular status Students who have either a low grade point average or low standardized test score may be considered for provisional admission

consideration For specific questions regarding the admission process please refer to the ECU Graduate School website: http://www.ecu.edu/gradschool/ Applications can be submitted

through the East Carolina admissions web page http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/gradschool/Apply-Landing-Page.cfm, click on “Apply on-line” and on “Supplemental packet for online applicants.” Additionally, you can download a full application

Graduation

Students must: (1) maintain a grade point average of 3.00 overall, (2) satisfy all course

competencies, (3) pass a comprehensive examination, and (4) complete a project or thesis to graduate

Graduate Assistantships

We have a variety of assistantships, such as Teaching Assistants; Research Assistants; Campus Recreation Programming; After School Programming, Outdoor Adventure Program Coordinator, and other outside contracts This position comes with a stipend that varies depending on placement However, the standard stipend is $9000.00/fall and spring semesters In addition, occasional tuition waivers are awarded to students

Contact:

Dr Clifton E Watts Jr

MS 540 – Room 1409 Belk Bldg

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC 27858-4353

E-mail: wattsc@ecu.edu

Voice: 252-414-0368

Graduate Assistantship Opportunities in Recreation Services and Interventions

We have several assistantships available for the upcoming 2019-2020 academic year A general set of assistantships to support teaching and on-going research are typically available for 10-20 hours/week We also have a number of specific assistantships funded by various projects and community partnerships In order to qualify for a graduate assistantship, candidates must be fully admitted and enrolled in the Recreation Services & Interventions Master’s Degree Program at East Carolina University We have the following opportunities available:

Departmental Graduate Assistantships

We have an allotment of Graduate Assistantships through the Graduate School at ECU

Department GAs work under the supervision of a faculty member in the Department of

Recreation and Leisure Studies Duties may be as a teaching or research assistant Teaching assistants help with classroom paperwork, organization, entering grades, and other clerical duties

as needed Research assistants support research studies in Recreation Administration or

Recreational Therapy Project work includes data entry, data collection, and coordination of administration procedures

Assistantship in Sustainable Tourism

The Graduate Assistant will work under the supervision of Dr Emily Yeager on multiple

projects related to sustainable tourism and community development These projects are located primarily in the southeastern U.S in both rural and urban areas These projects are developed from a sustainability framework that considers the economic, environmental, social and political impacts of tourism

Qualifications:

• The candidate must be fully admitted and enrolled in the Recreation Services &

Interventions Master’s Degree Program at East Carolina University

• Previous educational or professional experience within the fields/disciplines of tourism, community development, geography, or other related fields

• An interest in community development and a plan of study that emphasizes the

application of social science theories and methods to sustainable development issues related to tourism and recreation

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated skills in one or more areas: qualitative

Assistantship in Human Dimensions of Conservation, Ecology and Interpretation

The GA will work under the supervision of Dr Jeffrey Skibins on multiple projects related to human dimensions of wildlife conservation, ecotourism, and interpretation Research locations include national parks and protected areas, zoos, and aquariums across the United States and internationally Projects utilize conservation psychology frameworks to explore how human-wildlife interactions influence pro-conservation behaviors

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with research protocol design and

development, on-site data collection, data analyses, report writing, and overall project

coordination and logistics Student must be able to be at field-based data collection stations for extended periods of time

Qualifications:

Selection of the GA is made on a competitive basis using the following criteria:

1 A minimum 155 (verbal), 155 (quantitative), and 4 (analytical writing) GRE scores In

addition, the candidate must have a baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher

2 An interest in human dimensions of wildlife conservation and a plan of study that emphasizes the application of social science theories and methods to conservation issues

3 Be fully admitted and enrolled in the Recreation Services & Interventions Master’s Degree Program at East Carolina University

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The candidate must have strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

Preference will be given to demonstrated skills in statistical analyses, social media development, and/or previous social science research experience Preferred undergraduate programs of study include: wildlife biology, conservation biology, psychology, park management, or tourism The

GA must submit to and pass a criminal background check The GA is expected to work

approximately 20 hours per week The schedule is highly varied and will require evenings and weekends

Compensation:

The GA salary is $9,000.00 plus fringe benefits The work period is August 15, 2019-May 15,

2020 Summer funding may be available for this position

Assistantships in Youth Development

Currently, we have two separate graduate assistantships offered by the Greenville Police Athletic League (PAL) and Oakmont Baptist Church These are two of our valued community partners in Greenville, NC

Greenville PAL

The Greenville PAL is a youth crime prevention program with the Greenville Police Department that utilizes educational, athletic and recreational activities to create trust and understanding between police officers and youth The GA will work under the supervision of the Greenville Police Department Community Outreach Supervisor in an Assistant Coordinator position for the Greenville PAL The PAL program serves under privileged children ages 5-13 The program consists of after school care, spring break camp, summer camp, and a youth football

program Duties include outcome-based activity programming, planning group building

exercises, traveling on field trips, mentoring children, and assisting the program coordinator with administrative functions such as payroll and grant writing The GA will also be expected to communicate and coordinate with programs and individuals, including parents, volunteers, police officers, and City staff The GA will represent the collaborative relationship between the Greenville Police Department and the ECU Department of RCLS Thus, the ideal candidate will regularly exhibit professional behavior and positive contribution to Greenville PAL participants

Qualifications:

Some experience in a recreation service agency is desired Previous experience working with children is strongly preferred

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The candidate must be familiar with general concepts of planning, implementing, and evaluating outcome-based recreation activities and programs The candidate must also have strong

interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills The GA must submit to and pass a criminal background check The GA is expected to work approximately 20 hours per week, Monday thru Friday, between the hours of 7:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m and may include some late evenings These hours will be agreed upon between the GA and the Greenville PAL Program Coordinator

Compensation:

The GA salary is $9,000.00 plus fringe benefits The work period is August 15, 2019-May 15,

2020 The GA is able to exercise some of the ECU university breaks, with the exception of breaks that conflict with critical service periods for the Greenville PAL The GA will be required

Oakmont Baptist Church

The GA will work under the supervision of the OBC Senior Pastor in a Community Center Coordinator position for Oakmont Square Apartments The OBC owns Oakmont Square and operates the 112-unit community with two primary objectives: 1) Provide safe, affordable

housing to working-class citizens and families, and 2) Use the apartments as a hub of ministry by attending to the spiritual, educational, vocational, and medical needs of this community To achieve these, the Community Center Coordinator lives on site as a resident of the community, develops neighborly relationships with the residents, and assists with the coordination and

delivery of activities

Specifically, the Community Center Coordinator will:

• Model and invite persons to engage in spiritual formation that is compatible with the mission

of OBC;

• Build relationships with the residents served in the surrounding community, OBC members, and community resource partners;

• Provide a compassionate and servant-leadership presence, recognizing the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community;

• Assist the Oakmont Community Center (OCC) Visioning Team and the OBC Missions Team with developing strategic and operational plans for delivering support and services;

• Assist with raising awareness of community needs to the appropriate community resource partners and church membership;

• Assist with compilation and organization of OCC activity records; and

• Perform other duties as assigned

The GA will also be expected to communicate and coordinate with programs and individuals, including parents, volunteers, OBC members, and OBC staff The GA will represent the

collaborative relationship between Oakmont Baptist Church and the ECU Department of RCLS Thus, the ideal candidate will regularly exhibit professional behavior and positive contribution to Oakmont Square residents and OCC participants

Compensation:

This opportunity includes salary and housing The GA salary is $7,500.00, fringe benefits, and a partially furnished apartment at Oakmont Square with utilities ($7,800.00 value) The work period is August 15, 2019-August 14, 2020 The GA is able to exercise some of the ECU

university breaks, with the exception of breaks that conflict with critical service periods for the Oakmont Community Center and Oakmont Square The GA will be required to receive approval for time off from the OBC Senior Pastor

Assistantship in Adventure Recreation Leadership with ECU CRW

Campus Recreation Program Overview

Campus Recreation & Wellness (CRW) at East Carolina University provides the following programs and services for the campus community: Intramural Sports; Fitness & Physical

Activity; Informal Recreation; Club Sports; Adventure Programs; Adapted Recreation; Youth and Family; Aquatics, Safety Services, Campus Wellness, and Special Events Facilities include

a state of the art 150,000 sq ft Student Recreation Center, an 18-acre multi-sport field complex,

a Challenge Course, a small weight and fitness facility located within one of the residence halls, and the North Recreational Complex which includes a six-acre lake, a 3,000 sq ft boat house, sand beach, two beach volleyball courts, and an 18 hole championship disc golf course

Team Training & Adventure Overview

The Leadership & Team Training Program and the Adventure Program are distinct programs areas within Campus Recreation & Wellness Team Training has an Alpine Tower, Odyssey High Challenge Course, and 6-acre low ropes course Approximately 25 staff members work within Team Training and provide interactive teambuilding programs to students, staff, public school aged youth, and business groups The Adventure Program has a full rental center, 900 sq

ft climbing wall, and offers approximately 40 trips year and weekly clinics run by 23 student staff The Adventure Program also has a 200-hour comprehensive Adventure Program

Leadership Expeditions (APLE) training program to prepare leaders for afternoon, day, and extended outdoor trips We have also recently started to offer Custom Teambuilding trips that offer advanced teambuilding on local trails and waterways

Qualifications:

§ Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university Preference is given to candidates specializing in Physical Education, Recreation, or a related field (a 3.0 GPA or higher preferred) Must possess an academic background which will satisfy the academic graduate entrance requirements

of East Carolina University

§ Experience at the collegiate level in the organization and management of campus recreation programs (outdoor programs and teambuilding)

§ Experience in the supervision of Adventure and/or Team Training personnel

§ Ability to organize and administer clinics, trips and evaluation systems related to the training of staff

in most of the following areas: facilitation, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking,

backpacking, and high & low ropes course activities

§ Evidence of leadership and well developed interpersonal communication skills suited to a rapidly growing, diversified college community

§ Familiarity and comfort with website maintenance and organizational technology is preferred

§ Current certification in Wilderness First Aid and CPR must be maintained during the periods of

Responsibilities:

§ Organize, schedule, supervise and evaluate individual undergraduate staff

§ Ensure adherence to departmental safety/risk management procedures

§ Market, organize, develop and implement adventure clinics and trips for on & off campus groups

§ Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate staff in adventure and team training activities

§ Plan, lead, market, and evaluate Custom Teambuilding Trips

§ Maintain accurate statistical records related to participation, budget, and equipment inventory

§ Assist with the supervision and evaluation of undergraduate practicum and internship students placed in the Department

§ Assist in the promotion of campus recreation events and activities

§ Assist in the assessment of campus recreation programs through various research tools

§ Coordinate and communicate departmental programs and services to designated student representative groups

§ Conduct/instruct clinics, trips and workshops for staff on rental/wall procedures,

adventure sports, initiatives, Alpine Tower & Odyssey course methods

§ Assist in the development of student leaders within Team Training & Adventure

§ Utilize computer and web-based programs to coordinate activities

§ Additional duties as assigned

Dates of Employment and Compensation:

§ Expected start date: August 2019

§ This is typically a 2 year position with a satisfactory evaluation required to continue on to second year

§ Please contact Campus Recreation and Wellness for further information about

compensation

§ The graduate assistant will work closely with the Assistant Director of Adventure and the Assistant Director Leadership & Team Training

Application Procedures:

For further information, contact Adrienne Fike: 252-328-1560 | fikea16@ecu.edu or Chad Baker: 252-328-2944 | bakerch15@ecu.edu

Federal Law requires proper documentation of identity and employability at the time of

employment It is requested that this documentation be included with your application East Carolina University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and as such encourages applications from qualified women and minorities