Undergraduate Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Education: Variables Associated With Recruitment and Implications For Retention

Abstract

In New Zealand, as government funding of post-secondary education has dwindled, there has been an increasing reliance on student fees to maintain budgetary levels. The present study sought to examine variables that were influential to students' decisions to enroll at Lincoln University in the undergraduate degree offered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. In addition, indicators of present student satisfaction and intentions to continue in the degree were examined in order to develop an initial understanding of variables related to student retention. Results suggested that brochures were the most important source of information about both the University and the degree, and that future employment opportunities was the most influential variable in the decision to enroll in the degree. While a number of students indicated that they were not happy with their experience in the degree, their dissatisfaction was unrelated to the intention to continue in the degree. Students in the first year were more likely to be happy with their experience but were less likely to plan on continuing in the degree.

Key words:

• Marketing university or college degrees
• Student satisfaction
• Student Intentions

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Leslie A. Raymore

Biographical Information

Leslie Raymore and Tracy Berno are Lecturers (the equivalent of Assistant Professor) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Tracy Berno

Biographical Information

Leslie Raymore and Tracy Berno are Lecturers (the equivalent of Assistant Professor) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Lincoln University in Canterbury, New Zealand.