Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Outdoor Recreation Policy and Planning (Online)

ORPT 4600-30I

Course: ORPT 4600-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 31424

Course Description

Course will cover foundations of natural resource recreation policy and planning: policy history, key agencies, wildland recreation policy, recreation planning, management practices, and the NEPA process. 

Required Texts

Wellman, J.D. & Propst (2004). Wildland Recreation Policy: An Introduction. Krieger Publishing
Company, Malabar, FL.

Other readings as assigned through Canvas

Learning Outcomes

After this course students will have an increased awareness and understanding of:
1. The historical and philosophical roots of wildland recreation policy and planning, and how this relates
to outdoor recreation including natural resource management by government agencies and non-government organization (NGO's), and their missions, goals, administration, and cultures.
2. Policy implications for resource management. How does policy and planning effect economic, social,
political, and environmental considerations?
3. Basic planning concepts and principles of different approaches to planning: a comprehensive
approach, a protected area approach, and an Environmental Analysis/project approach.
4. Issues and trends in natural resource recreation planning.

Course Requirements

Policy or Planning Issue Paper - 150 points (due December 11)
Beginning in October you will choose an issue in wildland policy and planning, research it, and write a
report complete with recommendations. This research paper will be the final for this course.

Midterm - 100 points (due October 12)
This test will assess you mastery of the concepts presented in the reading and discussions to
that point in the semester.

Reading Comprehension/Critical Thinking Questions/Other Assignments.
Point value for each assignment will vary - 100 total points

There will be 10-13 regularly scheduled weekly assignment throughout the semester that will
require a 1-4 paragraph answers to demonstrate that you have read and can critically
understand the material we are covering in class and assigned readings.

Social/Civic Engagement - 50 points (due Nov 23)
This report will capture your experience participating as a citizen in a wildland recreation policy issue

Professional Conduct - 100 points
At the end of the semester, your professional conduct will be assessed: did you turn in assignments on time, did
you complete readings, did you follow through with group assignments, did you ask questions
and try to understand other perspectives? A professional conduct rubric is provided in Canvas

Course Outline

Below is an outline of the theories, principles, and topics we will cover in class and when they will be covered. Assignments associated with each timeframe are given in Canvas. You will also have other assignments related to your final research paper that you can also find in Canvas.
 
August 27-August 31
  • Course Introduction
  • Review Syllabus
September 1-September 7
  • The value of natural resources
September 8-14
  • Values in wildland recreation
  • Scarcity and demand
September 15-21
  • Policy Process
  • Tragedy of the Commons
September 22-28
  • Policy Process continued
  • Iron Triangles and Pluralism
September 29-October 5
  • Understanding the past
  • Utilitarianism
  • Romantic Preservation
  • Transcendentalism
October 6-12
  • Midterm Exam
October 13-19
  • Understanding the players
    • US Forest Service and National Park Service
October 20-26
  • Understanding the players continued
    • Bureau of Land Management
  • Wilderness Act
October 27-November 2
  • Wilderness Act continued
November 3-November 9
  • National Environmental Policy Act
November 10-16
  • Recreation Trends and Economic Opportunities
    • Old vs New West
    • Outdoor recreation economies
November 17-23
  • Wildland recreation and urban settings
December 1-7
  • Wildland management: values and judgement
  • Conclusion and review

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

When you become a professional you will find that sometimes there are severe penalties for failing to make a deadline. Therefore I take deadlines seriously. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments must be received by the deadline established in Canvas to receive full credit. Work received after that time will be penalized 50% of the points earned and will not be accepted after 3 days following the due date. In other words, if you earn 88 points on an assignment worth 100 points and turn it in one day late, you will be assigned 44 points. If the assignment was due at 8:30am on September 10 and you turn it in at 8:31am on September 13, you will receive no points. Exemptions from this policy can be made for student emergencies with advance notice.

Attendance Policy

This is an online course and there are no specific times when we meet as a class. However, professional conduct is a requirement of the class. See the rubric in Canvas for specific information on how your professional conduct will be evaluated. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.