Check, Bet, or Raise: Are You Prepared to Deal with Campus Gambling?
Summer 2005, Course 7
Dates: June 6 - 24
Instructor: Dr. George S. McClellan
CLOSED
Course Overview:
Gambling behavior (both legal and illegal) is pervasive in modern society. A study conducted by Ken Winters at the University of Minnesota (1998) found that about 50% of college students in the United States report having gambled within the past year. Shaffer and Hall (2001) report that 5.6% of college students in the United States are pathological gamblers, and a Harvard Medical School (1997) study of problem and pathological gambling among college students found estimated nearly 700,000 college are addicted to gambling. Despite the extent of gambling behavior on our campuses and the potential implications of such behavior, several studies indicate that a gap exists between the rates of gambling behavior (particularly problem behavior) on campus and awareness on the part of university officials (Bailey and Dickens, 1997; Shaffer, Forman, Scanlan, and Smith, 2000). This three week course will offer an overview of the extent of gambling behavior in society and among college students, provide a more detailed review of some of the hottest topics in gambling (poker, sports wagering, and gambling online), and help participants develop a framework for preparing their campuses to address gambling issues.
Course Outline:
The course will feature three modules. The first module will include an overview of gambling behavior in society, the extent and implications of problem and pathological gambling, and a discussion of ethical and legal aspects of gambling issues. The second module will focus on three of the hottest topics in campus gambling: poker, sports wagering, and online gambling. The third module will offer participants information on helping assure their campuses are prepared to address gambling on campus.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, active participants will:
- Have knowledge of the extent of gambling behavior in society and on campuses.
- Have knowledge of the extent and implications of problem and pathological gambling.
- Have knowledge regarding the legality of various forms and venues of gambling and have reflected on the ethical dimensions of campus gambling.
- Be aware of factors related to the rise of poker, sports wagering, and online gambling in society and on campus and of the extent of mechanics of such activities.
- Be familiar with various frameworks that have been developed to facilitate campus preparedness to address gambling issues and develop thoughts for an appropriate plan for their campus.
Expectations of Participants:
Students are expected to complete the required readings, engage the issues raised in the course, participate in discussions with other students and the instructor about the issues raised, challenge and support the learning and growth of other students, and open themselves to enhancing their own learning and growth.
This will be administered as an asynchronous class which means participants can log on whenever they wish and whatever location they have Internet access. The Discussion Board is the focus of online learning in this course. There will be no "real time" meetings for this course. On the Discussion Board we will spend time considering all facets of a judicial process, and how other people are practicing judicial education on their campuses. Active participation will significantly enhance the learning experience and help bring the course material to life. Participation in the online discussion is critical to your success in the class and is expected of each student.
Individuals registering for CEUs will receive 1.0 CEU upon successful completion of the course.
Instructor Bio:
Dr. George S. McClellan is the Vice President for Student Development at Dickinson State University. He served as the co-chair for NASPA's Gambling Task Force, has presented numerous programs on campus gambling at regional and national conferences over the past seven years, is the lead author of NASPA's invited paper on campus gambling, and is the lead editor for the forthcoming New Directions in Student Services monograph on campus gambling.
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