3.01

Evidence of Compliance: 

The Department Chair serves as the administrative head of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies and is elected by the faculty or appointed by the Dean in the case of a vacancy, as outlined in CSULB Policy 11-06: Policies and Procedures for the Appointment and Review of Department Chairs. 

In this role, the Chair holds primary authority and responsibility for decisions related to resource allocation within the department. This includes oversight and decision-making in the following areas:

• Budgeting and Fiscal Management: The Chair manages department-level allocations for Operating and Equipment (O&E) funds, Open University and Winter Session revenue returns, and Foundation accounts. The Chair prioritizes resource distribution to support teaching, student engagement, and professional development in consultation with full-time faculty and the Administrative Support Manager in the CHHS Dean’s Office.

• Personnel and Staffing: The Chair leads recruitment and hiring decisions for tenure-track faculty, lecturers, and student assistants, in collaboration with faculty search committees and the College Dean’s Office. The Chair also provides performance evaluations and oversees workload assignments.

• Facilities and Instructional Resources: The Chair makes decisions regarding the use and development of department facilities, such as The OUTBAC, and allocates space and materials to support instructional and co-curricular activities. The recent hiring of Ross Garner to generate revenue through external use of The OUTBAC demonstrates this resource stewardship.

• Curriculum and Programmatic Resources: The Chair ensures that course scheduling, faculty assignments, and curricular offerings align with available resources and strategic priorities.

Department chairs are expected to uphold CSULB’s core leadership values—ethics, transparency, shared governance, and accountability—while exercising their administrative authority. These responsibilities and decision-making powers are documented in department bylaws, university policies, and annual assessment reports.

Evidence of Compliance: 

The Department Chair provides input into the College budget development process and manages department-level funds in accordance with University and College guidelines, in consultation with full-time faculty. Financial oversight includes Operating and Equipment (O&E) funds, revenues returned from Open University and Winter Session courses, and donations managed through the CSULB Foundation. The Chair works with the College Administration Support Manager to prepare required University financial reports and ensures that expenditures align with departmental priorities.

While these fiscal management processes are well established, the adequacy of financial resources has been a continuing concern. The 2021 UPRC report specifically cited that the department’s operational budget is limited and insufficient to fully meet the needs of students and faculty. Basic functions such as printing, supplies, and phone access were noted as particularly impacted under the decentralized budget model, which presents additional challenges for smaller units such as Recreation and Leisure Studies.

In response, the department has taken several strategic steps to improve financial sustainability and enhance resource adequacy:

• External Contract Award – American Gold Star Manor Needs Assessment (2021–2024) From August 2021 to December 2024, the department administered a $150,000 external contract to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment at American Gold Star Manor, a local residential community. Faculty led the design and implementation of the leisure interest and resident service needs assessment, oversaw data collection and quality assurance, and provided detailed program and service recommendations. The project also provides ongoing internship, volunteer, research and curriculum opportunities for students. 

• Strategic hiring to support revenue generation and resource growth. In 2024, the department hired Ross Garner, whose responsibilities include marketing and expanding the use of the department’s outdoor recreation facility, The OUTBAC, by booking outside groups. This initiative is designed to develop The OUTBAC into a self-sustaining revenue source, reduce reliance on general funds, and support both programmatic and student opportunities.

• Active pursuit of external funding through grants, sponsorships, and donor engagement via the CSULB Foundation.

• Engagement with the CHHS Dean’s Office to align strategic planning and hiring needs with available resources and long-term program goals.

The department is committed to ongoing evaluation of its financial model and continues to advocate for the necessary resources to uphold academic quality, support student achievement, and fulfill COAPRT accreditation standards.

Evidence of Compliance: 

Faculty personnel policies and procedures within the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies are governed by institutional shared governance and contractual agreements with the faculty union. These policies are developed at the University level by the Academic Senate’s Faculty Personnel Policies Council (FPPC) and are codified in the CSULB Faculty Handbook and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the California State University system and the California Faculty Association (CFA).

The Department Chair is responsible for the local implementation of these policies, including dissemination of updated information, guiding departmental practices, and ensuring adherence to the terms of the CFA contract. The Chair oversees recruitment, evaluation, retention, and workload assignment for faculty in accordance with these established policies and consults with the CHHS Dean’s Office as needed.

All procedures are applied consistently and equitably, supporting faculty development and ensuring compliance with university-wide expectations.

Relevant policy resources:

• CSULB Faculty Handbook

• Faculty Personnel Policies Council (FPPC)

• California Faculty Association (CFA)

• CFA Contract

Evidence of Compliance: 

Academic policies and procedures affecting students and faculty within the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies are developed and implemented through shared governance processes at the University, College, and Department levels.

At the University level, academic policies are established by the Academic Senate and its committees. At the College level, the Council of Chairs and Faculty Council serve as consultative bodies to the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Each department has faculty representation on both councils. A recent example of collaborative policy development is the College Constitution revision approved by a faculty vote in Fall 2012.

Within the Department, policies are developed collaboratively during faculty meetings, and decisions are documented in official meeting minutes. The Department Chair is responsible for disseminating academic policies and ensuring their implementation in consultation with department faculty and in alignment with College and University guidelines.

An example of department-level policy development includes the Retention, Tenure, and Promotion (RTP) policy, which was created by a committee of full-time, tenure-track faculty and approved through department governance. The policy is publicly accessible via the CSULB Faculty Affairs RTP website.

These processes ensure that academic policies are developed transparently, reflect shared decision-making, and support the academic integrity of the unit.