New PE Course Considerations
Proposals for Adding a New PE Class
Athletics, Fitness & Outdoor Programs offers over 50 classes and a range of clubs to support students earning college credits required for graduation, and to improve student well-being. We offer a wide range of courses in order to appeal to as many areas of interest and skill levels as possible, resulting in one of the largest and most diverse course catalogues in physical education of any liberal arts college of its size. Through surveys, direct student feedback, coach and instructor feedback, and attendance documents, we learn about class popularity and attendence.
A brief scan of our offerings includes Folk Dance, one of the longest running courses in our catalogue, Fencing, Capoeira, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Archery, Rock Climbing, Table Tennis, Billiards, Kayaking, Rugby, Rowing, Hip Hop, Zumba, Tango, Meditation, Skiing, Cardio Kickboxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, ABC’s of Self Defense and many of the more conventional PE classes such as Basketball, Table Tennis, Soccer, and Swimming.
Occasionally, we are approached to add a new offering to this rich course list, and we keep a record of classes that students would like to see added to the curriculum. We are always interested in examining new trends in health and fitness, and finding new ways to excite and entice students into engaging in physical activities to support their physical and mental well-being. If you have an idea for a new course offering that might benefit the Reed community, you can fill out our New Course Proposal and bring it to our offices located on the first floor of the sports center. Before filling out the proposal, we encourage you to consider the following questions in order to help us determine if your idea will be a viable option (the more information and background you can provide, the better):
- What are the resources required to conduct a class of this nature? (i.e. in addition to a certified instructor, are there equipment, apparel, or spatial requirements necessary for this practice, assuming reasonable safety to the students?)
- Funding: The athletics department has a finite budget year-to-year; finding money to fund a new PE class/clubs often means dropping or cancelling an existing class. It can be a tough call to decide what class should stay and what class should go, as each class has it's devoted advocates.
- What is the demonstrated level of student interest and how can we measure it? Before devoting resources to a new course, we want to make sure that there will be a high enough level of student participation to warrant the resources. Participation levels vary year to year, and we have found that many times one person carries the torch and rallies folks to action but when that person graduates or loses interest, the activity can go dormant.
- Is there proven longevity of the practice? (i.e. is this a new trend that will likely pass, or will the resources expended have lasting impact for the school?)
Once you have submitted the proper form, the director will review your proposal and follow up with you to determine if this is a possible option, or if more information is needed before making such a determination.
Next steps
Gather those interested in a particular activity and seek funding through Student Body Funding. This allows us to see evidence of interest. If you find there is good or great participation levels, our department would certainly be open to discussing a proposal and the possibility of receiving college support. AFOP takes student requests to heart; our department wants to help students pursue their interests!