The head of Ohio University Campus Recreation will retire at the end of this year to focus on some of his other passions: research and student affairs.
Doug Franklin, assistant dean for Campus Recreation, will work on a nine-month contract next year doing planning assessment and research for OU’s Division of Student Affairs.
“The concept of what happens outside of the classroom has always fascinated me, this idea that you learn outside the classroom,” Franklin said. “What I hope to do is study that and work with all of the people in Student Affairs … to create a more holistic view of student life.”
Franklin will study student employment and participation in clubs, recreation, and campus involvement. He is also planning to create qualitative and quantitative measures that will allow him to analyze the information he gathers.
“We do a lot of anecdotal statements, and we know that students are learning outside the classroom, but we don’t have a lot of data to show that,” Franklin said. “We know we make an impact, and I want to be able to show that impact.”
This quarter, Franklin has been transitioning into the new position of assistant dean of students for planning, assessment and research, according to the Division of Student Affairs’ winter newsletter. He will continue to oversee Campus Recreation until a new executive director — the position will no longer be titled “dean” — is selected.
The Campus Recreation department manages Ping Center, the Aquatic Center, Bird Arena, and intramural and club sports, according to OU’s website.
Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi is leading a search committee to find a new executive director of Campus Recreation. OU has hired search firm Spelman & Johnson for a flat fee of $17,000 to assist in the search for candidates.
The committee hopes to name Franklin’s replacement by July 1, Lombardi said. Candidates will visit campus for interviews and open forums in the spring.
“Dr. Franklin has been a huge part of developing the Campus Recreation program,” Lombardi said. “He’s just been a really good advocate for student employment as well. His philosophy has always been that our students can do the jobs of running our facilities.”
Franklin has worked for OU since 1994 and received a Ph.D. in higher education from OU in 2007. He makes $102,217 annually but will make only $76,663 for his nine-month contract next year.
pe219007@ohiou.edu
