Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
Jim Langley
Examining the nature and extent of collaborative engagement between community
recreation agencies and higher education institutions
This project, endorsed and partially sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association, provided a comprehensive overview of the collaborative efforts and partnerships between park and recreation agencies and higher education institutions. The results also increased the understanding of how to build and develop relationships when conducting future collaborative partnerships. The study was the first national survey that extensively examined the nature & extent of university-community engagement in the park & recreation field. Through utilizing an Importance-Performance framework, this study was able to identify areas where collaboration is currently taking place, areas where collaboration is deemed important and areas where there may be differences between academia and those working in the field.
Jim's participation in this study stemmed from his desire to learn more about the research process through working closely with two faculty members. The quality of his work and dedication to work long hours helped make the project a success. In recognition of their efforts, Jim, Dr. Bob Barcelona and Dr. Jason Bocarro received the College of Health and Human Service's Ritvo Award, for excellence in faculty/student collaboration in research. The results were featured in Parks and Recreation magazine.