Assessment of a Campus Recreation Program on Student Recruitment, Retention, and Frequency of Participation across Certain Demographic Variables

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of campus recreational sports facilities and programs on student recruitment and retention and to provide analysis regarding the number of times students participate in recreational sports activity. A convenience sample of students from classes in the Department of Physical Education and Health at a small southeastern university was used in the study. The instrument consisted of a modified version of the National Intramural-Recreational Sport Association's Quality and Importance of Recreational Services Survey. The chi-square test of homogeneity was used to test for differences, alpha = .05. Significant differences were found on the gender and class standing variables studied. Although limitations of the study exist, the results provide further evidence that students report that the availability of recreational sports facilities and programs has an impact on both their decisions to attend and remain at an institution. Furthermore, the study shows that differences exist across gender and class standing variables in frequency of participation, a finding that can only serve to increase the practitioner's understanding of those who use such facilities and programs.