College - Author 1
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Department - Author 1
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration
Date
6-2011
Primary Advisor
William Hendricks
Abstract/Summary
Associations have increasingly been holding professional conferences globally. The California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (RPTA) department offers students the chance to attend various professional conferences annually. The purpose of this study was to assess the motivations of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo RPTA students to attend professional conferences. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on the Cal Poly campus. The findings from 80 subjects indicated a high interest in attending conferences; the top motivating factors to attend professional conferences were networking with professionals, job opportunities, and the relation of the conference to the respondents’ concentration. The lowest motivational factors were educational sessions, past experiences at conferences, and getting away from school. The RPTA department should offer more details to students about conferences to provide students the opportunity to draft their own budget and research attendees of a conference.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/rptasp/21