Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resource Studies Funding Priorities

On July 1, 2002, the dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced the integration of the departments of Resource Development (RD); Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources (PRTR); the Michigan Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center (TTRRC), and the academic elements of Agriculture and Natural Resources Education and Communication Systems (ANRECS). Rather than merging these units, we are strategically integrating them to create a new unit with a new mission and priorities. The new Department of Communities, Agriculture, Recreation & Resource Studies will focus on areas of significant concern to stakeholders and offer enhanced programs of teaching, research and extension.

Resource Development

The Gordon and Norma Guyer and Gary L. Seevers Endowed Chair in Natural Resource Conservation: Some of the most critical issues facing non-profit organizations involved in natural resource conservation and preservation are uncontrolled land development and use, funding, changing laws, management, and changes in science. As counties in Lower Michigan and across much of the Great Lakes States grow in excess of ten percent a year, wetlands, farmland, forests, etc., are disappearing. The Gordon and Norma Guyer and Gary L. Seevers Endowed Chair in Natural Resource Conservation will fund a new position for a faculty member whose teaching, research and outreach activities will focus on preparing the next generation of leaders to serve nonprofit organizations. This scholar will provide leadership to local, state and federal agencies and will conduct research and outreach programs related to managing our environment and natural resources in the face of urban sprawl.

The George and Nancy Axinn Graduate Fellowship Endowment: The Axinn's have devoted their lives to international development activities around the world. Both have made significant contributions to the people, organizations, and countries they have served. At the center of their work has been a commitment to helping train the next generation of scholars who will continue this important work. To this end, the Axinn's and the Department of Resource Development have started a new fellowship endowment for graduate students interested in international development careers.

The Milton H. Steinmueller Endowment Fund: Dr. Steinmueller devoted his academic career in Resource Development to the training of graduate students. Friends and alumni who wish to honor Dr. Steinmueller and his work are invited to give to the endowment. Yearly awards are made to the top doctoral candidate who is focusing his or her career on teaching.

The Resource Development Undergraduate Scholarship Fund: The undergraduate students in the department created this fund. The fund is meant to provide scholarships for the top incoming undergraduate students who are majoring in Environmental Studies. Alumni and friends are encouraged to support this important student program.

Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources

Endowed Chair in Recreation: Recreation is a maturing field of study that is becoming increasingly important to the lives of Americans. Recreation as a profession touches the lives of millions as people use their free time and discretionary dollars to enjoy life, the outdoors and local parks. The social, economic and management sciences that support scholarship in recreation are constantly changing. An Endowed Chair in Recreation would bring a level of scholarship and recognition to MSU seen only in a few select institutions across the country. There are a number of focal areas for such a position, but one key area would be in youth development. An endowed chair could focus upon youth development, providing leadership across campus in curriculum and outreach related to youth development issues. Such a position could knit together diverse interests ranging from leadership and outreach work with FFA and 4-H to issues of intervention related to youth development.

Environmental Stewardship in Tourism and Recreation: The College is developing an environmental stewardship thrust across units and programs. The environmental consequences associated with recreation and tourism development have to be understood and managed. Any stewardship enterprise within the college should include a broad understanding of the stewardship issues associated with recreation and tourism development. While the excellent, restorative Bay Harbor resort development in Michigan illustrates the best of “best practices,” it is not at all clear that these practices are fully understood and available to recreation and tourism industry sectors across Michigan. Looking ahead, it is clear that the pace of development stimulated by recreation and tourism will increase. Funds are needed to provide research and training in the recreation and tourism development sectors focused on environmental stewardship. Funds would support faculty positions, visiting faculty, lecture series, training programs and outreach focused on stewardship issues specifically related to recreation and tourism development and management.

Endowed international graduate scholarship fund: Over the past 20 years, a sizeable number of faculty members and administrators in recreation and tourism across the Pacific Rim have obtained degrees in the MSU Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources Department. Many can easily recall the difficulty of getting through college and the importance of financial support to their success. Today’s international students face even larger financial hurdles. An endowed scholarship to support international graduate students in their first year here at MSU would help to recruit and retain top graduate students.

Endowed graduate fellowships: Grants and contracts have been the primary method of supporting graduate students in the department. Such funding is unpredictable and difficult to use for recruitment. An endowed fellowship program would provide steady funding to recruit and retain top graduate students.