PRT 3207-090 Management in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

Syllabus – 3 Credit Hours – Fall 2017

Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation

Instructor: Online Course Requirement

• Troy Bennett, MBA
• Parks, Recreation and Tourism
• Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation Dept.
• Office: Virtual
• Telephone: 801-597-6179 (please only use if
urgent)
• Email: Please send all messages via Canvas
Mail or troy.bennett@utah.edu
Weekly Announcements: Please check the
announcements link each time that you visit the course
to find out about important information and updates.
This is a fully online course conducted via
Canvas. All readings, lectures, assignments, and
assessments are available beginning the first day of the
semester. The deadlines on the Canvas Assignment and
Assessment pages are the final word on all deadlines.
Students may finish course requirements early according
to their own academic schedule but they may not
complete the components late. Online courses require
students to be self-driven and accountable for
meeting course deadlines.

Login to the Course a minimum of twice a week.

Office Hours:
• Available during my Virtual Hours & by
appointment. Best hours to reach me are
Tuesday between 1-3pm and Friday 9-11am
• In-person meetings available by appointment
Virtual Hours via Skype/Canvas Chat:
You are invited to Chat via Skype with your
instructor. Skype allows us to share our Desktop and
therefore demonstrate problems or solutions. Please
schedule an appointment in advance via email or
Canvas Mail and then we will meet via Skype.

Pre- or co-requisites: None

Course Description:
PRT 3207 will take a systematic approach to management in the parks, recreation and tourism industry. Students
will analyze contemporary issues and practices, and trends that transform the way employees in the parks, recreation
and tourism industry are managed. The course will include the basic principles and practices of management in
parks, recreation and tourism agencies. These include planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, directing,
controlling, and evaluating. In addition, this course will focus on the roles of PRT managers in relation to human
resource issues, motivation, and leadership.

Course Overview:
Course content is organized using a weekly study guide that can be found on the homepage of the course. All of the
content, assignments, discussions, quizzes, etc. that you will need for working for a particular week can be found
linked within the study guide. An alternative available for the students is the Modules page on Canvas where all
items covered in the week will be linked. The navigation menu on the left side of the Canvas window is available
with direct links to the assignments, discussions, etc.
The course structure is based on a philosophy of self-directed learning. This online course has been designed in
an asynchronous format so that learners have flexibility in managing their own learning and
schedule. Asynchronous means that there is no scheduled course time that learners must all be present online.
Requirements for the course have been established on a weekly basis and students may fulfill these requirements at
their convenience during the week; however they must complete their work sometime during the scheduled week.
You cannot put off completing assignments until the end of the course just because the course is online. You will
also have an opportunity to participate in some optional real-time interaction (synchronous discussions) in the form
of Canvas Chats and Skype if you are interested in doing so later in the semester.
Teaching and Learning Method:
Delivery will be through a series of structured lectures, live chats, directed interactive learning activities, and
streaming video. This will include analyses of e-readings, discussions, slide shows, guided reading, and individual
and group discussions.

Learning Outcomes:

NRPA/AALR (Professional) Accreditation Standards that are covered in this course:

• Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about
operations and strategic management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related
professions. (Knowledge of park and recreation management and administration.)

American Hotel & Lodging Association Resort Management:

At the conclusion of this course, each student will be able to . . .
• Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between levels and functions of managers
• Distinguish between the four main resources within an organization
• Describe how managers experience career progression
• Describe the EEOC and its evolution due to federal legislation.
• Distinguish between EEO laws and affirmative action.
• Define disability, and describe the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its implications for human
resource managers in parks, recreation, and tourism-related operations.
• Explain the importance of job analysis and how to analyze jobs in the parks, recreation, tourism, &
hospitality industry.
• Summarize supply and demand considerations managers should keep in mind when planning for human
resource needs.
• Describe the importance of the selection process, and compare the features of the multiple hurdles and
compensatory selection strategies.
• Describe general performance appraisal issues and summarize the functions of performance appraisals.
• Describe types of compensation and outline the major influences on compensation plans.
• Identify the characteristics and advantages of effective incentive programs.
• Describe the reasons employees join unions, and analyze the statistics and trends of union membership.
• Outline employee rights under OSHA and how these rights apply to the parks, recreation, tourism, and
hospitality industries.
• List causes of turnover, summarize several methods for reducing turnover, and discuss the impact of
diversity on turnover.

Textbook:
The required AHLA ebook is included in the course fee. You will receive a message with your login and password
for the AHLA ebook during week 1.

• Woods, P.J. (2012). Managing Hospitality Human Resources. (Fifth Edition). Lansing, Michigan:
American Hotel & Lodging Association.

o Certification: The student must complete the comprehensive final examination with a minimum of
70% in order to earn the American Hotel & Lodging Association/Educational Institute (AHLA/EI)
Certification. The weekly study questions, weekly quizzes, and self-study questions have been
designed to assist you in achieving the AHLA/EI certification.

o The ebook is provided on the AHLA/EI CourseLine at http://courseline.ahlei.org (Links to an

external site.)Links to an external site.

o Enter Username and Password (provided by me in a Canvas Mail message)

o Final Exam will be held in Marriott Library Uonline Testing Center during the last week of the
semester
Student Responsibilities:
Success begins with You! Students electing to take online courses must demonstrate a high level of initiative,
autonomy and ability to work independently. Time management and organizational skills are essential to the
successful completion of an online course. This course content is scheduled in weekly learning modules. Each
week's module will be posted no later than Sunday of the current week. Students will be expected to complete the
work no later than Friday at 12 noon unless otherwise noted in the Canvas assignment description. Please see
the "Will I make a Good Online Student" and "Are you Ready to Learn Online" to verify your level of readiness to
proceed.

Collaboration is Essential! The learning community fostered in this course depends on the cooperation of all
members. Therefore, it is very important that you complete assignments on time as we move through the semester
because assignments build on each other and there are points where collaboration with your peers and peer reviews
are critical to the assignment at that time. Start by getting to know your peers during the first week of the semester
with the Welcome Discussion Board.

Assignments:

Written Assignments:
All papers are to be typed on a word processor and submitted as an attachment on the Canvas Assignment Page. A
title page is not necessary but put your last name at least on each page. If there are problems with your submission
you will need to resubmit a corrected file within 24 hours. The assignment guidelines and evaluation rubric for each
assignment is available to assist students in planning their assignments. Please see the Assignment Page for further
details on each assignment.

Quizzes:
There will be weekly timed comprehension quizzes to measure your retention of course content. You will be able to
retake the timed quizzes 4 times to assist in achieving the highest score possible. Your highest score will be retained
as your final grade.

Cohort Discussions and Collaborative Project:

Students will be asked to join a cohort for group discussions and a collaborative project. Cohorts are intended to
break the class up into smaller groups of students with similar PRT interest areas. It is my hope that the smaller
groups will facilitate increased student engagement through online discussions and effective collaboration on a
group project. The group project will entail identifying, contacting, and interviewing actual managers at a PRT
related business, organization, or government agency. Group members will collaborate on a report of the interview
results. More specific details about the collaborative project will be provided during the semester.

Management Philosophy Statement:

The purpose of this assignment is for you to identify and combine your values, attitudes, and your general opinions
about the importance of specific management principles and practices in order to create an overall management
philosophy. The final outcome will be a statement of your professional Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Management Philosophy. More specific details about the management philosophy statement assignment will be
provided during the semester.

Final Exam:
The Final Exam is a comprehensive measurement of your retention of concepts covered in this course. The Final
Exam is also an American Hotel and Lodging Association Certification Exam. You will be allowed two attempts at
the final exam in order to earn the certification. You must earn a minimum of 70 points out of the 100 points
possible in order to earn the certification. The Final Exam is conducted in the Uonline Testing Center for all students
in this course.

Bonus Opportunities: Students who miss an assignment or points on a quiz may select from several opportunities to
earn bonus points to make up for the missed points. Late submission of any bonus assignment will not be allowed.
Students may earn a total of 80 bonus points in this course.

Technology Assistance:
System Requirements: Students may "attend" this online course via the PRT 3207 Canvas Pages from anywhere you
have ready access to a computer equipped with a reliable Internet connection. Please note the Canvas Instructure
pages are best accessed via the Campus Information System utilizing the latest version of Google
Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser. If you are operating on a system with a "Firewall" or other security system that
might interrupt your participation or ability to open popup windows, MP3/MP4 or PDF files, please contact the
Uonline office for assistance or visit the Student Documents provided by the Technology and Learning
Technologies (TLT). Additional resources are available at the Canvas Student Guide.

Electronic or equipment failure:

It is your responsibility to maintain your computer and other equipment needed to participate in online forums in a
manner that enhances your experience. Repeated equipment failures will not be an acceptable excuse for late or
absent assignments. Utilize campus lab computers around campus to make sure you adhere to deadlines if you need
to do so. Do not wait until 11:58 am to begin posting your assignments on the due dates.

Help Desk:
(801) 585-5959, M-F, 8am - 5pm
classhelp@utah.edu

Course Policies:

Appointments: Please contact me via Canvas Mail or via email to arrange an appointment. I am available outside of
my office hours and we can chat via Canvas or Skype in the evening as needed. Call me at 801-597-6179 (please
use only if urgent).

Assignment Submissions: Assignments must be posted through the Canvas Assignment or Discussion page. No
assignments will be accepted in person or via email. In addition, you will have the opportunity to revise
assignments based on my feedback and resubmit them for additional points before the end of the semester if you
chose to do so.

Communication - Announcements: The announcement feature in UOnline Canvas will be used for
“broadcast” messages intended for everyone enrolled in the course. I will keep the announcements brief to facilitate
the receipt of these announcements via mobile telephones. Please update your profile and notifications in order to
receive these announcements in a timely manner. Students in past classes have reported this a valuable technique for
avoiding missed opportunities to earn points in this online course.

Communication - Discussions: The discussion board feature in UOnline Canvas will be used for (1) online
discussions about specific topics; (2) as a place to post questions and answers between students and faculty; and (3)
as a place for students to communicate with each other. There is a course question and answer forum and technical
support forum posted on the course homepage. Please use them to post questions, comments, and issues about the
course or technical problems. Many times several students have the same questions and problems so I like to address
those publicly so all can see instead of individually in private emails. Check the forums first before emailing me
questions.

Communication - Email: The primary methods of teacher-to-student communication for the semester will be via
course announcements and internal UOnline Canvas email. Now all email you receive through the UOnline Canvas
email system will be forwarded automatically to whatever email address you add. However, there is one BAD
downside. You cannot reply to emails sent this way in your regular email account. You must login to UOnline
Canvas and reply within that system. The instructor will check the UOnline Canvas email on a regular basis. Just
because this course is mainly in an online format does not mean you cannot have face-to-face interaction with the
instructor. Students should check for new emails in their external email on a regular basis and also check on a
regular basis their UOnline Canvas email. Check out the instructor's profile or your peer's profiles on Canvas to
learn other alternative contacts for the members of this course.
• Response from the Instructor: Unless otherwise noted, students may expect a response from the instructor
within 48 hours. In most cases I will try to reply as soon as I can and sooner than 48 hours but I am not
online 24/7. If you have not heard from me in 48 hours feel free to send a reminder email to me via Canvas
Mail. It is my first priority over external emails.

Due Dates and Times: All assignments submitted in this course will be due at 12 noon. The Uonline and Marriott
Library Help Desk staff is available at 12 noon to assist you with any technical difficulty. This is why the deadlines
will never be 12 midnight as there are no technicians to assist you. Please plan ahead!

Late Submission Policy:

Late submissions will be penalized 10% per day up to one week late. Late penalties will still apply to assignments
that are revised and resubmitted. This online course has set due dates for all assignments, assessments, and
discussions. All submissions are due at 12 noon on the date assigned. Any assignment received even one minute
after the deadline or later will be considered late. The Canvas clock is the final word on the time “stamp” on
assignments, assessments, and discussions. The only exceptions to this policy are those due to officially sanctioned
University activities, religious holidays, and illness with medical documentation. Please plan ahead in order to
submit assignments early or no later than the deadline to avoid the loss of points due to late submissions or missed
opportunities.

Please note the following FAQ:

• It is your responsibility to maintain your computer and related equipment in order to participate in the
online portion of the course.
• Equipment failures will not be an acceptable excuse for late or absent assignments. All deadlines are
scheduled at a time the Campus Help and Uonline Help Desks are available. Additionally, the Knowledge
Commons in the Marriott Library are available to assist you with computer access or technological issues.
• You are responsible for making sure your assignments, including attachments, are received before the
deadline and in a readable format. After submitting an assignment, open the assignment and verify that the
correct assignment is attached. Please ensure you have attached the correct file before closing the Canvas
Assignment page.
• You are responsible for submitting the assignment with the required naming convention, correct file
extension, and using the software type and version required for the assignment.
• Canvas uses electronic dating to close (the Assignment Page, Discussion Postings, and
Assessments/Quizzes), so late submissions over one week late will be locked out.

Online Course Guidelines:

There are unique responsibilities that come with taking a course having an online component. In an online course,
the workload is purposely distributed across the semester so that students can receive continuous formative
feedback. Since you will not see the instructor in a face-to-face class each week, you must assume responsibility to
check the Course Materials on Canvas each week. You must stay on top of deadlines and complete your work on
time so that you can engage with your peers when the assignment is active. You cannot postpone your work until the
end of the semester or when it is convenient to you and expect to do well. Deadlines for the online forum
discussions and assignments will be strictly enforced.
• Estimated time Requirement: A 3 credit hour course taught online over a 16-week semester typically
requires students to be in class (logged into the Canvas Instructure LMS) approximately 3 hours each week
and spend 6 hours per week outside of class working on assignments (or 2 hours per credit hour) .

Grading Policy:
Each student is empowered to control their own fate in this course as I do not grade on a curve. I use the standard
percentages accepted by the University of Utah. Please note that students must achieve the percentage for the grade
desired. No appeals will be accepted solely on the basis of being one or two points away from a desired
grade. Students will have an opportunity to earn bonus points to make up for missed quiz questions or missed
assignments. You may wish to track your progress towards your target grade using an Excel spreadsheet. Yes, you
can use Canvas to calculate your grades but the Bonus Points are included in the Canvas calculation.

Grading Scale:

Letter Percentage
Grade Required
A 93-100%
A- 90-92%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-82%
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%

D+ 67-69% The bar has been established and it is up to you to clear the bar to earn the grade
D 63-66% you wish for this course. Aspire to be the most you can possibly become! Begin by
D- 60-62% challenging yourself to achieve an
E Below 60% A grade in this course. It is very possible if you plan and prepare adequately.
Tentative Schedule: Please see Canvas for specific dates and assignment deadlines.

Dates Module # Assigned Assignments: Discussions, Quizzes &

Topic
Reading Exams
8/21 - Module 1 Introduction to Orientation Quiz, Welcome Discussion,
8/27 Mgmt of PRT Course Orientation & Introduction Orientation Assignment, & Orientation
to Management of PRT Canvas Mail Assignment

8/28 - Module 2 Hurd Chapter Module 2 Cohort Discussion

Leisure Services Managers
9/3 3
9/4 - Module 3 Woods Employment Laws and Employment Laws and Applications
9/10 Chapter 1 Applications Quiz
9/11 - Module 4 Woods Module 4 Cohort Assignment,
Job Analysis and Job Design
9/17 Chapter 2 Job Analysis and Job Design Quiz
9/18 - Module 5 Woods Planning and Recruiting Quiz
Planning and Recruiting
9/24 Chapter 3
9/25 - Module 6 Module 6 Cohort Assignment,
Woods
10/1 Selection Selection Quiz,
Chapter 4
Bonus: Big Five Personality Test
10/2 - Module 7 Orientation, Socialization and Culture
Woods Orientation, Socialization and
10/8 Quiz,
Chapter 5 Culture
Mid-semester Course Survey
10/16 - Module 8 Woods Module 8 Cohort Assignment,
Training and Development
10/22 Chapter 6 Training and Development Quiz
10/23 - Module 9 Woods Evaluating Employee Performance Quiz
Evaluating Employee Performance
10/29 Chapter 7
10/30 - Module Woods Module 10 Cohort Assignment,
Compensation Administration
11/5 10 Chapter 8 Compensation Administration Quiz
11/6 - Module Woods Incentive and Benefits Incentive and Benefits Administration
11/12 11 Chapter 9 Administration Quiz
11/13 - Module Woods Labor Unions, Negotiation & Module 12 Cohort Assignment,
11/19 12 Chapter 10 Collective Bargaining Labor Unions Quiz
11/20 - Module Negotiating & Collective Bargaining
11/26 13 Woods Quiz,
Health, Safety, and EAPs
Chapter 12 Health, Safety, and EAPs Quiz

11/27 - Module Woods Turnover, Discipline, and Exits Quiz

Turnover, Discipline, and Exits
12/3 14 Chapter 13
12/4 - Module Social Responsibility and Ethics Quiz,
Woods
12/10 15 Social Responsibility and Ethics Management Philosophy Statement,
Chapter 14
Final Exam Review
12/11 - Module Final Exam,
n/a Final Exam and Course Evaluation
12/15 16 Final Semester Course Survey
University Policies:

ADA Statement: The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for
people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to
the Center for Disability Services (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., 162 Olpin Union Building,
801-581-5020. CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All PDF
files and Wiki Pages have been designed to be readable by screen readers. If you need additional modifications,
please notify the instructor. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with
prior notification to the Center for Disability Services. For example, closed captioning is available for the Captivate
recorded lectures.

Attendance: Although this is an online course, weekly attendance via the Canvas Course Materials is
expected. This is consistent with the University of Utah policy as needed below:"The University expects regular
attendance at all class meetings. Instructors must communicate any particular attendance requirements of the course
to students in writing on or before the first class meeting. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves with
and satisfying the entire range of academic objectives and requirements as defined by the instructor." PPM, Policy
6-100III-O)

Academic Honesty: You must do your own original work in this course. Wherever the ideas or words of
others appear in your own work, they must be properly cited. Failure to make clear the sources of any outside
material you incorporate in your work constitutes plagiarism, which is against university standards. Plagiarized
material submitted for assignments will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the course and potential
dismissal from the University of Utah.It is required that you are aware of the University of Utah policies as you will
be held accountable to University of Utah standards. Please read the University of Utah Code of Student Rights
and Responsibilities (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site., which states in part, "In order to ensure
that the highest standards of academic conduct are promoted and supported at the University, students must adhere
to generally accepted standards of academic honesty, including but not limited to refraining from cheating,
plagiarizing, research misconduct, misrepresenting one's work, and/or inappropriately collaborating." Instructors
also have responsibilities to students and you can find information aboutinstructor responsibilities here. (Links to
an external site.)Links to an external site.

Wellness Statement: Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, cross-cultural
differences, etc., can interfere with a student’s ability to succeed and thrive at the University of Utah. For helpful
resources contact the Center for Student Wellness - www.wellness.utah.edu; 801-581-7776.

Veterans Center: If you are a student veteran, I want you to know that the University of Utah has a Veteran's
Support Center on campus. They are located in Room 161 in the Olpin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5pm. Please
visit their website for more information about what support they offer, a list of ongoing events and links to outside
resources: http://veteranscenter.utah.edu/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Please also let
me know if you need any additional support in this class for any reason.

LGBT Resource Center: If you are a member of the LGBTQ community, I want you to know that my virtual
classroom is a safe zone*. Additionally, please know that the U of Utah has an LGBT Resource Center on campus.
They are located in Room 409 in the Oplin Union Building. Hours: M-F 8-5pm. You can visit their website to find
more information about the support they can offer, a list of events through the center and links to additional
resources: http://lgbt.utah.edu (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site./. Please also let me know if
there is any additional support you need in this class.

Learners of English as an Additional/Second Language: If you are an English language learner, please be aware
of several resources on campus that will support you with your language development and writing. These resources
include: the Department of Linguistics ESL Program; the Writing Center (http://writingcenter.utah.edu/ (Links to
an external site.)Links to an external site.); the Writing Program (http://writing-program.utah.edu/ (Links to
an external site.)Links to an external site.); the English Language Institute (http://continue.utah.edu/eli/ (Links
to an external site.)Links to an external site.). Please let me know if there is any additional support you would like
to discuss for this class.

“Note: This syllabus is meant to serve as an outline and guide for the course. Please note that the instructor may
modify it at any time with reasonable notice to students. The instructor may also modify the Schedule at any time to
accommodate the needs of the class. Should you have any questions or concerns about the syllabus, it is your
responsibility to contact the instructor for clarification”