By: Linda Brothers

   The Department of Physical Education recently completed its self-study and hosted a team of reviewers who interviewed students, alumni, full-time faculty, associate faculty, staff and administrators. The review team was chaired by Beverly Warren, Chairman of the Physical Education and Exercise Division, at Lander University in South Carolina. Other members of the team were J. Carl Bennett, Chairman of the Physical Education Department at Manhattan College in New York City; Mildred Ball, Retired Director of the Indiana High School Athletic Association; Richard Ptlanzer, Associate Professor of Biology at IUPUI; and Linda Brothers, Associate Professor of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional, and Tourism Management at IUPUI. The purposes of the self-study and review are to: identify how the Physical Education department might effectively carry out its mission, assess the quality of the program and student learning; examine the physical facilities for the mission of the department; evaluate the goals of the faculty for teaching, service, and research; and assess the success of its program graduates. The committee members used two and one-half days to complete the interviews and will then compile their findings in a report to Dean Kellum and Dr. Trudy Banta, Vice-Chancellor for Planning and Institutional Improvement. The results of this study could have a significant impact on the future of the department, and the department faculty will have a series of meetings to analyze the findings of the review team.

Integrating Research Skills into an Undergraduate Curriculum
By: Sotiris Avgoustis

   Teaching undergraduates basic research skills should be a goal of every undergraduate program concerned with excellence. Professional training within a student’s discipline has been typically focused on the technical aspects of the job and not on why certain aspects are more important than Others. Students need to be aware of the emerging issues and trends that will shape their profession. They need to be acquainted with the most reoccurring problems, and they need the opportunity to discuss these problems with members of the academic and business environment.

    The Department of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional, and Tourism Management at IUPUI has developed two courses to -improve students’ research skills

a) HPER R423: Visitor Behavior Visitor behavior research includes the systematic, impartial design and-implementation of investigations to examine specific visitor behavior patterns. Students are required to identify a research issue, develop a formal research design, collect data, tabulate and analyze, interpret and summarize results.

b) RHIT 495: Tourism Research Students are required to present their project findings from HPER R423 to interested parties at regional or national conferences or publish their findings in academic or professional textbooks or journals. Each semester students are involved with a different research project. This semester’s project is titled “Profile of Greater Indianapolis Travelers”.

PROJECT ABSTRACT:
   The economic impact of travel on a state can be tremendous, as seen in the 1997 Report published by the Tourism Works for America Council. Domestic travel expenditures for the state of Indiana were around $4.6 billion and international travel expenditures added up to $22.5 billion (both 1995 figures). Total 1995 travel expenditures for the state represented an increase of almost 5 percent over 1994 figures. Dollars spent by tourists produced a ripple effect that was felt within every aspect of a community, as well as the overall economy of the state. For example, as a result of these travel expenditures, travel-generated employment for Indiana reached a new high of around 256,000 jobs.

   This study is the researchers’ first attempt to collect data on visitor volume, market share, trip characteristics, and demographics for Greater Indianapolis residents who are travelers. Data is collected through the use of a questionnaire that is sent to a small panel of 1,097 Indianapolis households (0.25% of total Indianapolis households) randomly selected from the 1997-98 Greater Indianapolis White Pages telephone directory. Prior permission to use an established questionnaire developed by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) was obtained by the researchers.

   Study participants are asked to record details of up to three trips per month for August, September, and October of 1998. Specifically, the questionnaire is asking for a) primary and secondary purpose of trip, b) primary and secondary mode of transportation, c) number of household members traveling (adults and children), d) whether it was a group tour, e) up to three states or countries visited on trip, f) key cities/places visited in each state/country, g) number of nights in each type of accommodations, h) trip expenditures, and I) tourism-related activities.

   At the conclusion of the study, the researchers will: a) profile the trip characteristics and demographic characteristics of the group, and b) compare their trip and demographic characteristics to total U.S. travelers.

   The first two rounds of the survey have already been completed with an excellent response rate, around 18%. The third round questionnaire has been mailed to study participants. Once the responses are collected, the students will proceed with the analysis of their data as described above. On February 6, 1999 the students will present the findings of their study at the Midwest CHRIE conference in Merrillville, Indiana.

   For more information on the study and how to enroll in the above two courses please call me at 274-7649 or send me e-mail at savqoust@iupui.edu.

Teacher Track Planning Needed
By: Ed Schilling

   In the last article changes in regard to licensing of teachers was discussed. That is not the only change on the horizon for our students planning to become teachers. The movement through the teacher track has undergone changes as well.

   One big word that is appropriate in regard to expectations or students moving along the teacher track is PLANNING. Students fortunate enough to have successfully completed Mrs. Teeguarden’s class will have a great foundation and understanding of the need to plan lessons in the a thorough and timely fashion. This lesson will need to be extended to your academic planning as well as your teaching repertoire.

   The first planning expectation is for students to understand that they must have a 2.5 grade point average and pass the PPST before ANY of the School of Education classes may be taken. Then, the classes will have to be taken in pairs with common field experiences. The sequence will be different than it has been. In a future edition we will specifically spell out those blocks of classes or pairs that are to be taken together. Throughout the experience students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average overall, in the major and in the School of Education classes. No grade lower than a C in those courses, WI 31, BI 04 and R110 will be accepted as counting.

   The final example of the need to plan ahead is the application for student teaching. Remember that you must apply by the winter break for student teaching either the first OR second semester of the FOLLOWING year.

   So, when Mrs. Teeguarden harps on you to do thorough lesson plans and to have them done in advance, she is in fact not only preparing you to continue the excellence our students have enjoyed for these many years, she is also getting you in the mind set for what lies ahead. Good luck and keep on time with your obligations to move through the teacher track.

Corporate Challenge Participants
By: Betty Jones

   Several physical education faculty members participated on the IUPUI Corporate Challenge team on Saturday, September 12th. Events included 5K runs and walks, fitness walks, relays, basketball free throw shooting, and more. Participants included Sandy Bamett, Liz Cohen, Betty Jones, Maft Rota-Autry, Jacqui Pesa (winner of h mile run in her age division!), Eileen Udry and Mark Urtel (2nd place 5K race walk!). It’s great to have Physical Education folks on the team.

PE – Majors ListServ - Get in the Loop
By: Betty Jones

   What? An electronic bulletin board with timely; helpful, valuable interesting information for physical education majors. As a subscriber you automatically receive all messages (“postings”), can submit messages and can reply to messages. Messages come to your e-mail account.

   Who? Anyone may subscribe to the listserv. It doesn’t cost anything.

   How to subscribe? Log on to email Send a message to listserv@listserv.iupui.idu don’t put anything in the “Subject” line. In the message area, type in sub PE-Majors your name, and send it. For example Santa Claus would type in sub PE-Majors Santa Claus.

   Need help with this? Check with any computer lab consultant, with the Department Secretary (front desk) Mrs. QuaIls, or Dr. Betty Jones (betjones@iupui.edu).

RHS Donation to Christamore House
By: Linda Brothers

   Members of the Restaurant and Hotel Society served a Thanksgiving lunch to 150 people for a fund-raiser. The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase canned foods and toys to contribute to Christamore House, a community center located near campus. Any students, staff, or faculty who would like to contribute a donation of food, toys, or money toward this project should call Dr. Brothers at 274-8772.

Gingerbread Celebration
By: Linda Brothers

   Students enrolled in Foods and Nutrition 203 have organized their third annual Gingerbread Celebration. The students made gingerbread houses for display and invited students, staff, and faculty to enter a gingerbread creation in a contest that has a $50.00 grand prize. All of the gingerbreads can be viewed on Thursday, December 10 from h 1:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. in ET 201. There is an admission donation of two canned food items or $1.00. Alt of the food and money will be given to Wheeler Mission.

New Certificate Program
By: Linda Brothers

   The RHIT Department faculty has created a new certificate program: Introduction to Oenology. Oenology is the study of wines, and the certificate will serve as a credential for industry professionals or lay persons to expand their knowledge about wines. Five courses are being developed for this program:
Wines of the United States, European and New World Wines, Wine Selection, Wine Purchasing, and Creative Wine Management. The department will offer the Creative Wine Management course spring 1999 on Tuesday evenings at 5:45 - 8:25 p.m. Anyone interested in enrollment in the certificate program should contact Pat May at 274-2599.

Other Certificate Programs
By: Linda Brothers

   Three certificate programs: Meeting Planning Specialist, Food Service Specialist and Travel and Tourism Specialist continue to attract industry professionals, RHIT majors, and other IUPUI students who are seeking to expand their knowledge about the tourism and hospitality industry. These courses are typically offered in the evening to meet the work schedules of those employed. For spring 1999, RHIT 319: Management of Sport Events wilt be taught on Monday evening, RHIT 310: Special Event Management will be offered on Tuesday evening and RHIT 271: Mechanics of Meeting Planning meets on Thursday evening. RHIT 171: Introduction to Convention and Meeting Management will be taught on Monday/Wednesday at 2:30. These classes are all requirements for the Meeting Planning Specialist certificate. The Travel and Tourism Specialist certificate has two courses offered to fulfill its requirements: RHIT 272: The Tourism System that meets on Monday/Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. and RHIT 472: Global Tourism that meets on Tuesday/Thursday at 1:00p.m.