Purpose

The purpose of the University of North Alabama Center for the Study of Sport and Recreation is to enhance quality and quantity of scholarly endeavors and service-based initiatives in sport, recreation, and related fields as cultural, social, and economic dimensions of the human experience. Research and scholarly pursuits serve not only as an avenue for creation of knowledge but in the facilitation of information guiding teaching content. From this perspective the Center holds the position that teaching and research are most effective when applied as an integrated model. The Center also seeks to create potential for service within the University and the local community whereby expertise regarding the role of sport and recreation as an essential part of the human experience may be enhanced through application of knowledge gained through scholarly initiatives. To this end the Center endeavors to create a multifaceted research community consisting of faculty, students and community agencies involved in sport and recreation management. These foci parallel directly with the UNA mission:

Mission

The Center for the Study of Sport and Recreation encourages, promotes, and facilitates faculty as well as undergraduate and graduate student research in the areas of sport, recreation, and related fields. To this end the Center endeavors to create a multifaceted research community consisting of faculty, students, and community agencies involved in promoting sport and recreation as a means of improving the human condition. Specific goals of the Center are to: 

• Identify research opportunities for students majoring in sport and recreation management. 
• Identify research opportunities for graduate students in the Master of Science in Health and Human Performance degree that can lead to completion of a master’s thesis, academic research related to specific content in a graduate course, and/or presentations at professional conferences.
•  Promote faculty research germane to their specific academic areas of interest in sport and recreation management. 
• Sponsor collaborative research initiatives involving faculty, students and community agencies related to sport and recreation management.
• Seek internal and external funding to support Center research and service-based initiatives.
• Promote international studies and research relative to sport and recreation management through collaborative partnerships.

Center Activities

Individuals engaged in the Center function in a variety of roles including but not limited to lead or co-investigators of research projects; serve on student theses committees; pursue both internal and external funding in support of ongoing scholarly activity and service-based initiatives; seek collaborative efforts in scholarship across departments and colleges at UNA as well as outside institutions both academic and private; offer consulting based on faculty expertise; host guest speakers and establish a regional conference for topics germane to sport and recreation management; and engage in University and community efforts aimed at promoting the pursue of optimal quality and quantity of life for the general citizenry.

Student Engagement

Students serve in an integral role within the Center. Involvement may be as lead or coinvestigators (under supervision of UNA faculty) for ongoing research and scholarly activities; co-authors of funding requests in support of research; co-authors for peerreviewed publications at the University, state, regional, national, and international levels; co-presenters at state, regional, national, and international conferences; and copresenters at University or local events focusing on issues germane to sport and recreation management, or other involvement as determined by the Center Board of Directors.

University and Community Engagement/Service

The Center endeavors to provide expertise and leadership with regard to sport and recreation management within the University and the local community. Examples may include but are not limited to services focusing on promoting sport and recreation as related to the pursuit of optimal quality and quantity of life for the general citizenry, conducting research in support of sport and recreation, and engagement of leaders in the local community as potential partners in promoting sport and recreation through education and evidence-based practices associated with longevity and positive lifestyle practices.

Organizational Chart

The Board of Directors for the Center consists of a minimum of three faculty members from the Department of Kinesiology, one of which will be designated as Director of the Center. Board members will work with the Director to promote the mission of the Center and to assist in Center projects as needed.