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Administration Components of University-Based ACCT Challenge Course Programs David J. Waters, Sheena Cook, Ryan Olson, & Jeffrey P. Steffen University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Need for Study Growth Diverse backgrounds Continued growth and reorganization Review of Literature
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Administration Components of University-Based ACCT Challenge Course Programs
David J. Waters, Sheena Cook, Ryan Olson, & Jeffrey P. Steffen University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Need for Study • Growth • Diverse backgrounds • Continued growth and reorganization
Review of Literature • Steffen (1998) called for challenge courses to be housed according to their mission • Sugerman (1999): “no clear consensus on outdoor leadership training in the college/university academic setting”
Review of Literature • Raiola & Sugerman (1999) (in J.C. Miles & S. Priest, Adventure programming): suggested in-depth look at higher education curriculum would be important step in defining what constitutes excellence • Medina (2002) reported on position types, job responsibilities, training backgrounds
Review of Literature • Plaut (2002): college/academic settings allowed (a) grounding in theory; (b) stimulating a sense of the possible; (c) keeping field current in changing world; (d) training masterful educators
Review of Literature • Attarian (2002): college program growth in adventure and challenge courses. Therefore, accountability and examination of: (a) recruiting, selecting, and training staff; (b) how programs are operated; (c) achievement of program outcomes
Review of Literature • Hirsch (2007) called leadership crucial in “pushing the flywheel” and getting good organizations to higher levels of greatness (in closing address of Association for Experiential Education)
Objectives 1. To gain a better understanding of human resources for ACCT affiliated university challenge courses 2. To gain a better understanding of financial resources for ACCT affiliated university challenge courses 3. To gain a better understanding of current trends and data about administration of university challenge courses
Methods & Instrumentation • Sample: n = 104 ACCT university affiliated members • Survey piloted with 10 ACCT university affiliated challenge course programs to increase validity and reliability • Administration of 19 item survey via SelectSurvey.net • Return rate of 60.5% (63/104)
Program Name • “Rope and/or Challenge Course” 32% • “Outdoor” 17% • “Adventure” 13% • “Recreation” 8% • “Other” 30%
Titles of Respondents • Director 40% • Coordinator 35% • Professor/Lecturer 11% • Manager 6% • Other 6%
Program Elements • Outdoor Low Elements 94% • Outdoor High Elements 85% • Climbing Wall 78% • Indoor Low Elements 31% • Indoor High Elements 13%
University “Division” • Division I 54% • Division II 25% • Division III 14% • Other 6% • NAIA 2%
University Population • Less Than 3,500 6% • 3,501-7,000 14% …………………………………………………….…. • 7,001-10,500 17% • 10,501-13,500 11% • 13,501-17,000 17% • 17,001-20,500 5% • 20,501-24,000 8% • 24,001-or Greater 23%
University Funding • Public 86% • Private 14%
Program History Years of Operation: • 0-5 20% • 5-10 35% .………………………………………. • 10-15 14% • 15 or Greater 31%
Operating Budget • Fully Self-Sustained 30% • Partially Self-Sustained 56% • Financially Supported by University 12% • Other 2%
Funding Sources • Student Services 63% • Academic Dept. 24% • Other 14%
Percent Funded by Institution • 0-25% 27% • 26-50% 23% • 51-75% 20% • 76-100% 30%
Total Staff Size • 1-10 38% • 11-20 41% • 21-30 13% • 31 or More 8%
Full-Time Staff 0 Full-Time Staff 28% 1 Full-Time Staff 54% 2 Full-Time Staff 13% 3 or More Full-Time Staff 5% Average FTE = 1.09
University Training Protocol for Staff • ACCT 89% • In-House 73% • PRCA 14% • Other 3%
Primary Population Served Student Groups On Campus 32% Students in Academic Classes 25% Public Special Interest Groups 16% Students From Outside the University 13%
Analyses • Majority of programs are Division I schools with over 7,000 students • 50% of programs are under 10 years old • Approximately 86% are fully or partially self-sustaining • Most get funding from student services • Approximately 80% of programs have 0-1 full time staff • Most programs base their training in ACCT standards • Majority of program focus on serving campus students
Implications/Recommendations • Qualitative studies of challenge course orientation within university departments • Qualitative studies of challenge course orientation according to funding resources • Examination of self-sustained budgets • Challenge course promotion on campuses
Implications/Recommendations • Examination of university strategic planning and challenge courses as part (or not) of this planning • Challenge courses and their orientation via placement (prominence) on college campuses
Contact INFO Steffen.jeff@uwlax.edu Waters.davi@uwlax.edu Olson.rya2@uwlax.edu
This presentation is posted at: www.uwlax.edu/steffensgreatest ppt. presentations.gov.com.edu