Curriculum and Academic Policy Council Minutes

April 20, 2004

Members: Chris Coleman; Peter Fitzpatrick; Bob Fox; Susan Hornbuckle; Rhonda McLain; George Nakos; Adel Novin; Kim Robinson.

Non-members: Shaun Amos; Janet Hamilton; Cindy Lauer; Judith Plawecki; and Tammy Wilson.

1.  Approval of minutes deferred to the next CAPC meeting.

2. Second reading of Health Sciences proposal for a major in Health & Fitness Management was discussed. A motion was made by Robinson, seconded by Hornbuckle and approved by CAPC. (see below)

New Program Proposal

Clayton College & State University
School of Health Sciences
Major in Health & Fitness Management under the Existing Bachelor of Science Degree

CIP: ______

1. Program Description and Objectives

Clayton College & State University proposes to establish an undergraduate major in Health & Fitness Management. The addition of this program is consistent with the first theme of Clayton State’s Strategic Plan: to expand academic programs to “meet student and societal needs and support our status as a University”. As the University’s enrollment continues to grow, students will require majors that develop outstanding communication skills, excellent critical thinking abilities and valuable clinical skills. Further, students must possess well-developed skills in computer and information technology.

The Health and Fitness Management major will provide students with a solid foundation concerning the management side of preventive health care, which is the distinguishing feature of Clayton State’s proposed program over many others in the University System of Georgia. Students will be prepared for entry and mid-level management positions in organizations providing health and fitness services, such as within occupational health settings, insurance companies, home health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, governmental health agencies, and corporate settings. Graduates may also pursue employment as salespersons, administrators, and managers of all types of fitness / wellness facilities. Additional opportunities exist for those who aspire to become entrepreneurs in the field and pursue health and fitness coaching / consulting.

The main objectives of the proposed degree program are to:

·  enhance the preparation of students for graduate study (exercise physiology, exercise science, management, business administration, gerontology and other related fields);

·  provide content/discipline foundation for careers in health and fitness management within corporate wellness centers, hospital-based fitness facilities, traditional health clubs, resorts, and others;

·  enhance students’ abilities to acquire and synthesize health and fitness information in a critical, scientific, and effective manner through detailed, intensive analysis and evaluation of texts and other research materials;

·  provide students with relevant strategies of health promotion, illness/injury prevention, and illness/injury rehabilitation to maximize healthy outcomes of individuals, families and communities in a multicultural society;

·  develop students’ critical thinking and research skills to levels of excellence expected of bachelor’s prepared health & fitness professionals; and

·  prepare students for national certification exams in the field of health and fitness.

The Health and Fitness Management major will include foundation courses such as, anatomy and physiology I and II, survey of health and fitness professions, first aid and CPR, and introduction to the health care environment. This major will also provide students with a solid base in business and management principles by requiring courses in accounting, economics, marketing, finance, legal, ethical issues in health care, and applied human resource management in health care delivery. The program features courses specific to the heath and fitness arena including, kinesiology, exercise physiology, personal health and wellness, prevention, care and rehabilitation of injuries, nutrition, principles of fitness across populations, pharmacology, exercise testing and prescription. Finally, the program will involve capstone courses to insure the students are able to synthesize all of their undergraduate coursework into meaningful application of their acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities. These courses include health and fitness management, a capstone course, and an internship. A complete listing of courses is provided in section four of this proposal.

2. Justification and Need for the Program

2a. Societal Need: The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, “Overall employment of recreation and fitness workers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, as an increasing number of people spend more time and money on recreation, fitness, and leisure services.” As well, it should be expected that there would be a growing need for management level positions that will parallel the overall growth for this field.

Projected job growth stems, in part, from rising demand for recreational and fitness activities for older adults in senior centers, retirement communities, and other settings. In order to reduce the risk for many chronic conditions, such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes and arthritis, the general population has increasingly been encouraged to pursue the benefits of exercise for it’s positive effects on overall health and well-being. In addition, more workers will be needed to develop and lead activity programs in halfway houses, children's homes, and daycare programs for people with special needs. Recreation and fitness jobs will continue to increase “as more businesses recognize the benefits of recreation and fitness programs and other services such as wellness programs.” National job opportunities for these workers are projected to increase 21 to 35 percent through 2012.[1] With the increase in demand for these kinds of facilities, individuals prepared in both the areas of health and fitness and management will be required to oversee the business side of the enterprise.

According to the State Occupational Projections, Long Term web site, employment for fitness trainers and aerobic instructors in the State of Georgia is projected to grow to 44% by 2010; an employment change of 1250 jobs; an average of 180 annual openings. Georgia ranks seventh nationally in percent employment change and 19th overall for projected employment growth (4100) in 2010.[2] Most of these jobs will be in metropolitan Atlanta, where the Georgia Department of Labor projects an annual growth rate of 6.79 percent in the area of Fitness through 2010.[3]

The Southern Crescent has experienced explosive population growth since the early 1990s, and data indicate that this growth trend will continue into the foreseeable future. Projections suggest that south metropolitan Atlanta will experience a 26% population growth by the year 2010, compared to a 19% growth statewide.[4] Because Clayton State is the only public university in the Southern Crescent, the Health & Fitness Management major will help to meet the area’s burgeoning need for baccalaureate programs and for individuals prepared to function within the management side of the health and fitness enterprise.

Providing a major in Health & Fitness Management will enable CCSU’s constituencies to better address societal needs related to health, wellness and lifestyle and issues such as:

q  Health Risks – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes cause 7 out of 10 deaths per year. Risk factors for these diseases including tobacco use, poor nutrition, obesity, and lack of physical activity can be successfully modified years before the onset of disease.

q  Obesity – The incidence of obesity among US adults increased 57 percent from 1991 to 1999; among those in the 18-29 year age group it increased by an astonishing 70%. Among children and adolescents, the rate of obesity increased 100% over the past 20 years. Obesity is a primary risk factor for several significant health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure. It is estimated that overweight and physical inactivity are responsible for over 400,000 deaths each year in the US, coming in a very close second behind tobacco-related deaths[5]. According to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey[6], 64% of the US adult population is either overweight or obese (an 8% increase over the data from 1994). Data from that indicates that 31% of US adults are considered obese (a 34% increase over the data from 1994).

q  Diabetes – A common result of obesity, type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically alongside the increased incidence of obesity. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US and contributes to heart disease, stroke, blindness, high blood pressure, kidney disease and amputation. The serious health problems associated with Diabetes cost over 100 billion dollars in 1995.

q  Sedentary Lifestyle – The major health issues of our country, including most chronic diseases, can be positively affected by an improvement in physical activity level. According to the CDC, more than 60% of US adults do not engage in levels of physical activity needed to provide health benefits. An estimated 76.6 billion dollars could be saved if all inactive US adults became physically active. A multifaceted and innovative approach will be needed to enable Americans to make the necessary changes.

q  Seniors – Combining these facts with the knowledge that by the year 2030 the population of those over age 65 will have doubled (to over 63 million), leads to the unmistakable conclusion that in order to get a handle on the upward spiral of health care costs, we must make a change in the way we approach our lifestyle and health care, and make wellness and prevention our cornerstones. It is critical to enable the seniors and soon-to-be seniors the most independence possible as they head into their final stage of life expectancy. This group constitutes the fastest growing segment of our population. The ranks of the oldest-old, a term that refers to individuals 85 years of age and older, will swell five-fold to more than 19 million people in the year 2050.

q  Children –The number of children who are overweight has surged to unprecedented levels. According to the CDC, in the year 2000, 15% of children and adolescents ages 6-19 were classified as overweight or obese (up from 11% in 1990). As a result, the rate at which children and teens are developing Type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically. In some communities, children and adolescents account for nearly 50% of all new cases of Type 2 diabetes. The primary factors involved with this increase include not only excessive weight but also poor nutritional practices, and sedentary lifestyles of our youth.

2b. Student Demand: In January 2004, a survey of currently enrolled Clayton College & State University students was conducted. Ten percent of the respondents indicated that they would strongly consider changing to a Health & Fitness Management major if one were offered, while 22 percent of the respondents indicated they were unsure. Currently, there are approximately 20 students at Clayton State who have been advised in the Health & Fitness Management specialty track currently offered within the Health Care Management major. These students will most likely declare Health & Fitness Management as their major once the major is approved. In addition, a recent survey of area high school guidance counselors showed that nearly half of the respondents believe that the availability of a B.S. in Health & Fitness Management would increase the number of high school graduates who choose to attend Clayton State for their undergraduate degrees. Based on this information, it is estimated that this professional preparation program will attract approximately 35 full time students, traditional and non-traditional, from across the campus and from the greater Atlanta region within 12 months of initiation.

2c. Institutions in the State Offering Similar Programs (information is from USG website).

No other program entitled Health & Fitness Management is known in the State of Georgia. However, similar programs of study with a focus on exercise have been identified however, they do not have a management component. They are:

Degree / Major / College/University
Bachelor of Science / Exercise Science / Columbus State University
Bachelor of Science / Exercise Science / Georgia State University
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science / Stand-alone Degree / Valdosta State University
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology / Exercise Science / Georgia Southern University

In addition to the programs identified here, there are five academic programs with related foci within the University System of Georgia. The specific descriptions of the programs are provided below.

·  Georgia Southwestern State University – “The BS in Education degree with a concentration in Exercise Science/Wellness is designed to prepare graduates for careers in corporate fitness and wellness. Completion of the program will provide the undergraduate student with the entry-level skills and the knowledge base to function competently in a wide range of fitness/wellness employment opportunities.”[7] Other majors: Recreation, Sports Management, Health & Physical Education, Health Behavior, and Community Health.

·  Kennesaw State University – BS in Exercise and Health Science. “The Exercise and Health Science major is designed for students seeking academic preparation in sport, exercise, and health. Within Exercise and Health Science students can chose to concentrate in Exercise Specialist, Health Promotion or Pre-Professional. Exercise and Health Science prepares students for careers in the exercise and wellness professions.”[8] Other majors: Sports Management, Health and Physical Education.

·  University of Georgia – BSEd in Exercise and Sport Science. “With a BSEd degree, positions can be obtained as exercise and sport science specialists in various settings (corporation, hospital, sport medicine clinic, YMCA, community recreation, government, military, sport team). Many graduates go on to graduate or professional schools majoring in sport medicine (physical therapy, athletic training, or other medical specialties) or specialized areas of exercise science (adult fitness and cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, biomechanics, and measurement). Following advanced study and/or certification, positions may be obtained as physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, higher-level exercise specialists or directors of cardiac rehabilitation and adult fitness programs in hospital, corporate, YMCA and community settings, and as exercise scientists (teaching and/or research) in higher education, government or industry.”[9] Other majors: Health promotion & Education, Health & Physical Education, Recreation & Leisure Studies, and Sports Studies (offer an emphasis in business).

·  Georgia State University – BS in Exercise Science. “This program prepares students for careers in corporate fitness, adult fitness, personal training, cardiac rehabilitation, and related fields. Also, preparation is provided in fitness management, program management, sports skills, and related topics.”[10] Other majors: Recreation, Health and Physical Education.