A Review of Literature on the College Experience of Students Employed in Campus Recreation Programs

Abstract

Student employment has become an educational fact with more students seeking work after every year. The purpose of this synthesis is to demonstrate the impact of college students who work in Campus Recreation in relation to their collegiate experience and level of job satisfaction. There has been plenty of research conducted on students in regards to the collegiate experience or job satisfaction, but not together. Selected by strict criteria, eleven accredited scholarly journal articles were examined that specifically investigated collegiate experience and job satisfaction. Other sources were used to incorporate background information. Furthermore, factors such as academic performance, leadership and professional development, beneficial socialization practices and sense of belonging, all have partial variables that can influence a student’s life on campus, as well as their experiences in the workplace. It is an obligation for student affairs-based departments such as Campus Recreation to foster camaraderie, develop a professional dynamic and include the work setting as a learning venue in order to nourish student maturation. Ultimately, it is up to the student to determine their own fate at their post-secondary academic institution and workplace.