Leisure Satisfaction and Quality of Life: Issues for the Justification of Campus Recreation

Professionals in campus recreation have relied most often on participant numbers to justify programs and facilities. However, very little research has been conducted to justify programs. This paper suggests that as a profession we should assess programs and facilities using research that utilizes the constructs of quality of life and leisure satisfaction. Further, it outlines current NIRSA-funded research that utilizes those constructs in an attempt to assess a campus recreation program. If this research project is successful, assessing quality of life and leisure satisfaction could be a viable method for assessment of campus recreation programs. A good assessment method could assist the profession to justify the need for programs and facilities.