APPENDIX H
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To:
Subject:
Date:
Student Life Committee, Faculty Senate, Penn State Berks
Executive Committee, Faculty Senate
Proposal for New Fitness Center and Kinesiology Lab
October 12, 2007
The results of the most recent Student Satisfaction Survey (2006-07) indicate that
students are least satisfied with the Campus Recreational Sports Facilities (41% were
dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied) compared with any campus service or facility.
Given that any extension onto the Beaver Center is at least 4-5 years away and dependent
on approximately $10 million (Blaine Steensland) being raised in private donations, a
short-term solution is necessary to improve the recreational facilities to an acceptable
level for student use in the next few years. The availability of an up-to-date fitness center
is necessary to impact student, staff, and faculty health and well-being, attract future
students during recruitment visits, and enhance training of kinesiology majors in their
profession.
Current Status
The current use of space in the Beaver Community Center is untenable for the needs
of the many people who use the facility. The Auxiliary Gym is unavailable during
most of the day because of activities and majors classes, and inadequate for general
student and staff demand because of broken equipment and limited space for aerobic
equipment. The Weight Room is overcrowded at times and not inviting to female
students and staff.
Proposed Solution-Benefits
1. The Weight Room equipment is moved into the Auxiliary Gym with additional
cardiovascular equipment added to create a full-time Fitness Center in the
Auxiliary Gym.
a. It will be easier to monitor and maintain safety (new Fitness Center) and
keep the workout facilities open during peak usage hours.
b. This attractive layout will encourage more students, staff and faculty to be
active, and recruitment of future students at Berks campus is enhanced.
2. The Kinesiology Laboratory (113 BCC) moves to the current Weight Room.
a. It is a larger facility for 15-25 majors where Kines Labs can be held.
b. The treadmill can have the required space for safety (ACSM guidelines).
3. The current Kinesiology Lab becomes an Athletic Training Room for varsity
athletes.
a. The larger room will allow the Trainer to treat more athletes
simultaneously and give student-athletes privacy for treatment.
4. The current Athletic Training Room becomes Laundry and Athletic Uniform
Room.
Costs
1. New floor mats needed over floor in Auxiliary Gym Additional aerobic equipment in Auxiliary Gym Lab/computer tables & chairs in new KINES lab area More electrical/computer connections in new KINES lab Total
$20,000
$10,000
$ 2000
$ 1000
$33,000
Potential Obstacles
1. Several KINES activity classes and several club activities might have to be moved
into the main gym, multipurpose room, or auditorium in Perkins. Several external
weekend users (e.g., craft show) may have be constrained to main gym use and
will have to have food service in the multipurpose room. Several university
events (staff awards, student-athlete awards) may have to be held in Multipurpose
Room or Nittany Lion Room in Perkins. These are viable moves that will need to
be integrated into the room schedules.
Conclusion
Clearly the benefits outweigh the costs. Since the possibility of a new gym/fitness
facility extension being built is 4-5 years away at best and dependent on external funding,
this short-term solution to maximize the current available space is warranted. The
greatest number of students, faculty, and staff will benefit. Students and faculty/staff will
benefit from an available, purpose-built fitness facility allowing them to exercise more
hours of the day under Kinesiology supervision. Future student tours will see an
appealing fitness area that will entice them to enroll at Berks. Kinesiology will have
adequate space to utilize with its increasing student numbers in class labs, computing,
and individual research. Tenure-track faculty will benefit from the enhanced space in
research productivity and grant-writing. Varsity athletics will benefit from an enhanced
athletic training area and laundry.