The Clackamas print., October 19, 2016, Page 6, Image 6

P.E. classes cut
THREE CLASSES ELIMINATED THIS TERM DUE TO LOW ENROLLMENT
(faculty, too!)
BY TR AV IS DAVID V W H ITTA K E R
Starting in grade school and up through
h igh sch o o l, p h y sical ed ucation w as
a m ajor requirem ent. Today, w ith the
advancement o f technology, people are
becom ing less active in daily life . Yet
Clackam as C om m u nity College had to
cut three o f the P.E. classes this term.
The Am erican Heart Association and
the American College o f Sports Medicine
call for able-bodied adults to do some
form o f daily exercise. It d oesn’ t have
to be an intense workout. According to
one study, a h alf an hour brisk walk five
times a week or playing go lf will improve
overall health.
The college requires a total o f three
health and/or physical education credits
to obtain a transfer degree or a program
certificate. Students have the option to
take a one-credit P.E. course three times
(some o f the courses are online and can
be two credits), or to take a three-credit
health class to knock out that requirement
in a single term.
This term , the college cut three P.E.
courses in clu d in g v o lle y b a ll, soccer
and card io-circuit (form ally know n as
aerobics). A ll three o f the classes had
less than ten people enrolled according
to A thletic Director Jim Martineau.
P.E. and health enrollment numbers are
lower this year compared to recent years,
with 1,266 students in 2016 down from
1,475 in 2014 and 1,835 in 2012.
Karon Allen, who has taught the cardio-
circuit class for the last 24 years, only
teaches the course on a part time basis
at the college. Allen feels that students
are in a tough spot to fit them into their
schedules.
" I th in k sch ed u les are to u gh fo r
students. There are a lot of one-credit P.E.
classes offered at the same time during
the w eek,” Allen said.
Allen intends to teach the course again
for winter term .
For one student, this was the only class
she takes at the college. Anna Senn has
taken the P.E. course for the past 12 years.
W ith not being able to take it this term ,
she has decided to m eet up w ith a few
i Qadone ftrt OCTOBER19.20l6ihedadainaspnraLœin
CLACKAMAS
STU D EN TS’
STUDY
BREAK
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Karon Allen, left, teaches cardlo circuit training on the CCC tennis courts during
spring term. Anna Senn, center right, has taken the class for 12 years.
o f the other women from the course to
continue to work out and stay in shape.
“ I w ill sign up for the class in the
w inter,” Senn said.
“ It would be sad i f we
lost golf. It’s a lifetime
spo rt-just a great
activity. I wish we could
get more people.”
-PaulFiskum
L o n g -tim e em p lo yee and fa c u lty
member Paul Fiskum, who teaches several
health and P.E. classes at the college, has
had a few classes canceled over the years.
The class that Fiskum struggles most with
in terms of enrollm ent is his golf class,
w hich is held at Sa h -H a-L ee golf course
in Clackamas. His class has been cut three
or four times in his 27-year tenure.
“ Typically, teachers w ill be trying to
recruit some people into their class, put
up flyers around the campus to encourage
more people to take the class,” Fiskum
said. “ It would be sad if we lost golf. It’s
a lifetim e sport—just a great activity. I
wish we could get more people. ”
This term , Fiskum ’ s golf class was in
danger of being cut. He was able to salvage
the course by doing an independent study
w ith four students w ho are unable to
attend.
A typical health or P.E. course can hold
around 20 people per section. But for
those who can’ t m ake a P.E . class on a
daily basis, the college has a one-credit
cross training course that can fit up to
200 people per term. The course allows
students to work out at their own pace
in the campus w eight room and log the
tim e towards the class using a student
ID number.
The P .E . departm ent plans to put all
three of the courses back on the schedule
for winter term that were cut for fall term.
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