Experiential learning and serving others. Two hallmarks of the liberal arts foundation that has been instilled in students at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) for decades. SMWC students, faculty and staff participate in several service events like “Serve the Valley” and SMWC’s Foundation Day of Service. When thinking about giving students hands-on experiences in the classroom, Tricia Pierce, DHSc, ACSM-CEP, assistant professor of exercise science, determined that “service learning” was the best route to take for her EXS-315: Fitness Training students.
For an entire semester, the EXS-315 students conduct a training program for SMWC faculty and staff to participate in. Pierce shared the ultimate goal of the program is to benefit both the students and the participants in the program. “The purpose of service learning is to allow the students to get training experience and for faculty and staff to get training services during the work-day.” When initially developing the program, Pierce shared that the main focus was awareness and getting The Woods community active. “In years past, SMWC didn’t have a wellness program, so this program is really an extension of what a wellness program would provide. Our goal is to ensure that faculty and staff get 30 minutes of exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Pierce said.
Participants:
Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs
Rebecca Andrews, MFA, department chair, arts & letters, professor of graphic design
Sara Amstutz, MBA, lecturer of business
Sara Mahady ’05, director of alumni relations
Peggy Nash, executive assistant to the president
Tonya Sawyer ’07, Ph.D., department chair, business and leadership, assistant professor
Student instructors:
Luke Cooper
Madisyn Courtney
Madison Fueger
Isaac Hale
Keandre Jones
Rylee Pender
For the first half of the semester, the class takes place in the Exercise Science Lab located in the lower level of Hulman Hall. During the second half of the semester, participants and trainers complete their exercise in Club ’64 in the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center on campus. Madisyn Courtney, a junior exercise science major, shared she’s enjoyed being a trainer and has learned a lot throughout the course so far. “I was a little nervous when we first started this semester. I was still learning the ins and outs of training and I wasn’t sure how I would do from a fitness coaching perspective and how my client would react. Even though my client had been in the program before, she’s been great to work with. I’ve even learned from her through constructive feedback as we’ve gone through the semester. I’ve learned a lot from our first day of training to now. I can really feel that I’ve grown in my confidence and that this will help me in my career,” Courtney said.