Accreditation is a process that assures the educational community and the general public that an institution or a program has clearly defined and appropriate objectives and maintains conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected. It encourages improvement through continuous self-study and review. It fosters excellence in postsecondary education through the development of principles and guidelines for assessing educational effectiveness. Accreditations can be for the university, colleges, departments or specific programs.
Recreation & Leisure Studies, Therapeutic Recreation, and, Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management
Recreation & Leisure Studies, Therapeutic Recreation, and, Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management programs at Southern Connecticut State University are accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). COAPRT recognizes academic programs in colleges and universities that prepare new professionals to enter the parks, recreation, tourism and related professions COAPRT Accreditation is a status granted to an academic program that meets or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. In the United States, accreditation of professional preparation curricula is conferred by non-governmental bodies, which are often closely associated with professional associations in the field. COAPRT accredits baccalaureate degree programs in this profession. COAPRT is accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Important Information Regarding Degree Mills
Please watch this important video regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. "Accreditation" from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential." Read more on CHEA's website.
Program Evaluation
COAPRT standard 2.05.05 requires reporting of aggregated results of learning outcomes assessment. Results for the most recent academic year (2022/2023) follow.
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Standard 7.01: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 83% of the students scored an 80% or above on their program/special event portfolio demonstrating entry level knowledge of the techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in recreation and leisure industries.
Standard 7.02: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 90% of students scored an 80% or above on their lab experience journals demonstrating their ability to design and evaluate a recreation program to facilitate targeted human experiences and embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
Standard 7.03: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 100% of students scored an 80% or above on the Professional Portfolio that includes management philosophy, employee recruitment materials, budget, marketing campaign, and risk management plan.
Therapeutic Recreation
7.01 During the 2022-2023 academic year, 100% of students averaged a 7.5 or above on their medical terminology modules and abbreviations (5) demonstrating entry level knowledge of the scope of the TR profession and its associated delivery systems, and the foundations of the TR profession.
7.02 During the 2022-2023 academic year, 92% of students scored 80 or above for case studies (5) assignment demonstrating the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
7.03 During the 2022-2023 academic year, 83% of students scored 80 or above on program development assignment demonstrating entry-level knowledge about the management and administration of TR services.
Tourism, Hospitality, & Event Management
7.01 Standard: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 80.9 % of students achieved 80% on Worksheet #1in Rec 363 Event Management, demonstrating the ability to explain the nature and scope of Tourism, Hospitality, & Event Management (T.H.E.M.) as it relates to the leisure service industry.
7.02 Standard: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 100% of the students successfully completed their contract terms and conditions in THE 365 Event Planning and Production, demonstrating the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
7.03 Standard: During the 2022-2023 academic year, 80% of the students achieved the 85% standard for the course project in THE 364 Advanced Applications in Event Management demonstrating knowledge about operations and strategic management in T.H.E.M. 20% did not complete the post-event evaluation.
7.04 Standard: During the 2022-2023 academic year,100% of students enrolled in REC 400 Internship completed their 400-hour internship and received a positive review from their site supervisor.
Sport Management
The following sport management degree program(s) has been granted Candidacy Status by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), located in Fort Collins, CO, USA:
Bachelor of Science, Sport Management (SMT)
Bachelor of Science, Sport Management - Online (SMT-O)
Bachelor of Science – Master of Science Accelerated Program (SMT-A)
Master of Science, Sport & Entertainment Management (SEM)
Candidacy Status is not an accredited status, but a step toward seeking accreditation by COSMA.
Student Learning Outcomes Matrix - Academic Year 2023-24
Program-Level Operational Effectiveness Goals Matrix - Academic Year 2023-24