The mission of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS) is to educate tomorrow's leaders in parks, recreation, tourism, and recreational therapy as well as provide scholarship and leadership to the region, state, and nation. The Department prepares its graduates for professional level employment and promotes general awareness of the nature and value of healthy lifestyles. It is the philosophy of the Department faculty that professional preparation in recreation and leisure services should encompass a broad-based liberal education, a strong professional foundation, and the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge and skills with an emphasis on experiential learning. In addition, the Department is committed to contributing to the expanding body of knowledge related to the fields of recreation and human services. This is achieved through scholarly activities, active mentorship, and responsiveness to the evolving needs of the local and global communities.
While committed to the philosophy, purpose, and goals described above, RCLS faculty members accept and embrace the mission of the University and College, which is: “to provide students with a rich, distinctive undergraduate and graduate educational experience. The university is committed to developing each learner’s ability to discover, evaluate, and communicate knowledge; to make informed decisions; and to recognize a decision’s ethical dimensions. The university also is committed to imparting a sense of citizenship and personal responsibility, fostering lifelong learning, and nurturing an understanding of the interdependencies of people and their environments.”
