Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1996

Thesis Director

Phyllis T. Croisant

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate challenges associated with programming wellness activities in the university setting. Telephone interviews were conducted with 50 college/university wellness program coordinators in the Midwest United States. Campus Recreation/Recreational Sports employed 72% of the respondents, the remainder were employed by Athletics, Health Services, Physical Education, or a combination of those listed. Likert scales were used to gauge degree of barrier severity and amount of collaboration with various university departments. Ninety-eight percent of coordinators work with professionals outside of the department in which they were employed. The departments that most often collaborate include Campus Recreation, Health Services, and Physical Education, and Athletics. Challenges programmers face include financing, understaffing, and facility space. When ranked in order of severity, financial issues (mean 1.85) were of greatest concern. Following financial issues was interdepartmental cooperation (mean 1.98). The least faced barrier was participation (mean 2.14). Individually assessed on a 1-10 scale, advertising, or lack of promotion of programs was the largest barrier (mean 7.32). Barriers in descending order include: Lack of staff, facility space, budget constraints, and lack of equipment. Solutions to these barriers were offered by wellness program coordinators who have faced these issues.

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