Incorporating Practicality within the Sport Management Curriculum

1. Incorporating Practicality within the Sport Management Curriculum Heath Hooper, Ph.D. Shorter University Micah Natale, M.S.S. Shorter University Michael Ross, M.S. Shorter University

2. Introduction to Program & Offerings • Mission: • The Department of Sport Management is built upon sound business principles and is committed to the relationship between sport and business.  Through undergraduate and graduate instruction, accompanied by experiential learning avenues, the program engages and prepares future Christian leaders for a diverse and professional industry. • The Department of Sport Management at Shorter University strives to promote excellence in sport management education by achieving its mission and broad based goals. • Associate of Science in Sport Management • Bachelor of Business Administration in Sport Management (Traditional) • Bachelor of Business Administration in Sport Management (Online) • Master of Business Administration in Sport Management • Minor: Sport Management

3. Background • Growth within the Major • Internship Opportunities must be expanded upon • Offerings for each type of student • Gaining opportunities and experience as a Freshman • Partnership with Department of Athletics • Restructuring • Areas of opportunity

4. Overview of Presentation • Instilling opportunities and practicality amongst Sport Management Majors • Correlation to COSMA Principles • Methods of accomplishing these initiatives: • 12-credit (500 hours) Capstone Internship completion • Volunteer Opportunities • College of Business Lecture Series • External Relationships/Community Relations

5. Objectives/Correlation to COSMA Principles • COSMA Principle 1: Outcomes Assessment: Assessment is conducted on the following areas as it directly correlates student centric practicality: • Experiential Learning • Athletic Collaboration/Internship Opportunities • COSMA Principle 3: Curriculum: Improving the assessment evaluations for student interns. • COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships: The faculty will develop strategies and outreach opportunities to communicate and gain new opportunities for students outside of Shorter University using internship placement. • COSMA Principle 8: Educational Innovation: Incorporating opportunities for students to work directly within an athletic department and requiring an extensive internship as part of the sport management curriculum correlates directly into building bridges between Academics and Practitioners.

6. Capstone Internship Overview • 12-credit (500 hour) Capstone Internship • Requirement to complete BBA Traditional Sport Management Degree • Optional Internship Opportunity for Online and Masters Students • Internship can be completed all at once or 6+6 (250 hours at two different sites) • Student Assessment • Midterm and Final site supervisor evaluation • Exit Interview with faculty supervisor • Successful completion of a major project (internship site oriented) • Evidence of Professional growth

7. Internship Assessment • COSMA Principle 1: Outcomes Assessment & COSMA Principle 3: Curriculum • SLO3: Apply classroom skills and knowledge into an experiential learning situation in which students are expected to complete experiential learning activities. • (Indirect) Measure: SPM 4050 - Sport Internship final evaluation survey completed by the academic supervisor. Specific areas of evaluation include efficiency, timeliness, communication, and professionalism. • In SLO3, the sport management program was able to exceed the acceptable goal of measure 1 by students gaining an average of 4 (strongly agree) for professional performance and personal qualities. • SPM 4050(Fall 2018) – Students (N= 7) were assessed by using the Department of Sport Management experiential learning assessment rubric. The assessment was based on a final site-supervisor evaluations based on the agreement of 16 performance areas. The results indicate that 100% (7/7) of the students scored 90% or higher on the assessment. • (Direct) Measure: SPM 4050 – Internship Site based capstone project to be completed by the student as it relates to the company/organization’s goals • Assessed Spring 2019

8. Internship Opportunities • NCAA DIII USA South Conference • Rome Braves The Intern Group – Melbourne, Australia • Atlanta Falcons • FedEx Forum • Elite Sport Advising • Boys & Girls Club • Lake Point Sports Complex • Birmingham Barons • Georgia Swarm • Chattanooga Lookouts • PGA of America – Georgia • Darlington High School COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships

9. Internship Employment • COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships • Shorter Sport Management Alumni Employment • Senior Event Manager – Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena • Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach – Point University • Operations Manager – Rome Braves • Team Operations – Women’s Volleyball – Western Kentucky University • Youth Foundation Program Manager – PGA of America • Assistant Football Coach – Wingate University

10. Volunteer Partnerships • COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships • Atlanta Hawks • Atlanta Falcons • Rome Braves • Darlington Athletics • ACC Tennis Championship – Rome, GA

11. College of Business Lecture Series • COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships & COSMA Principle 8: Educational Innovation • Opportunity for students to network and listen to speakers from different sectors of the Sports/Business Industry • KrigeSchabort – Paralympian Medalists & ESPY Award Winner • Jon Babul – VP of Basketball Development – Atlanta Hawks • Amanda Dinkel – Community Relations Coordinator – Atlanta Falcons • Tom Hart – USA South NCAA DIII Commissioner • Matthew McClain – Senior Event Manager Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

12. External Relationships/Community Relations • COSMA Principle 7: External Relationships • OEG2: Strategically develop strategies and outreach opportunities to communicate and gain new opportunities for students outside of Shorter University. • (Indirect) Measure 1: As a department, the number of relationships gained throughout the academic year. • The sport management department was able to exceed the acceptable goal of measure 1 in that (7) new external relationships were formed to promote volunteer and partnership opportunities. • (Indirect) Measure 2: New Internship placements for our students. • The sport management department was able to exceed the acceptable goal of measure 2 in that (9) new internship placements occurred with external departments/organizations/businesses.

13. Recommendations • Continue to progressively assess student learning outcomes and operational effectiveness goals for the current academic year. • Enhance the strategic plan to encompass COSMA principles into our department. • Actively promote Shorter University’s Sport Management program on a regional and national level. • Create innovative educational opportunities to encompass the culture of the “student” in today’s educational landscape.

14. Thank you for your time! Heath Hooper, Ph.D. Shorter University Micah Natale, M.S.S. Shorter University Michael Ross, M.S. Shorter University