Kinesiology 505 is a late-start course that’s not a class, but rather a one-way access point to the school’s free fitness center. The course is non-credit with zero costs, with enrollment being eligible at any time of the semester. The course is located in building 1700, prepped with new equipment and full-time staff to help attend to workers’ needs.
To attend the center, the Kinesiology Department requires you to enroll in the class, fill out a waiver that needs to be turned in to a staff member, and complete the Mandatory Fitness Center Quiz. With the new gym opening, it provides students the opportunity to have easy access to meet their personal health goals while being on campus.
The mission behind the fitness center is to have a place for students to go throughout the day. The center is open every weekday with hours varying on Fridays, with the staff hoping to provide a more accessible experience,
“The hours are open ended for the most part and then you can come a little more on your own schedule and there’s a facility for you to use, that has everything you need” said Matt Borchert, Fitness Center Coordinator.
Borchert collaborated on this project with the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Sheila Hudson, the athletic director, Erik Visser, the assistant athletic director, Alison Aubert, and other supportive faculty. Collaboration between others has been emphasized throughout the project, including the social sphere of the gym.
The idea is to get students to work together to help take care of their physical health by working out in a social setting.
“Like I say, you can get a bunch of workout buddies, see them, so to speak, and come here, you know, come as friends and work out together, motivate each other and encourage each other,” Borchert said.
The canvas shell has many resources that include the components of physical fitness and even explain the leading causes of death in the United States. In the future, Borchert is planning to include information about nutrition and its importance.
“I would say a long-term goal is to maybe try to get like four different sections of it. By kind of like, you know, kinesiology 100, 200, 300, 400..So, like your first semester, you take 100 and then second semester 200, third semester 300, fourth semester 400.” Borchert explained.
“You know, with the idea that students are here for…four semesters in theory, right? Because it’s a two-year college, and then they have something where they can take it the whole time they’re here.”
Borchert also wants to continue promoting the new facility and is looking forward to creating a new Instagram to help promote it. The Fitness Center will continue to be open during the summer, starting June 9th and ending July 31st. It will be operating on a Monday-Thursday schedule, open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
