Department of Health and Exercise Science
College of Applied Human Sciences

Strategic Plan

MISSION

To discover and disseminate knowledge in the areas of health and exercise science through academic, research, and outreach programs. Physical activity, wellness, and disease prevention concepts are central to the mission. The curriculum focuses on health throughout the life span and addresses prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.

GOAL

To increase the number of people participating in physical activity and healthy lifestyles consistent with national health goals.

TAGLINE

The Discovering Healthy Lifestyles tagline describes our commitment to the discovery of new knowledge, and the dissemination of that knowledge through academic and outreach programs.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The department is part of the College of Applied Human Sciences, which houses two schools and five other departments and over 4,400 students. Within the department, there are 16 full-time faculty and three full-time staff members. The Department has an undergraduate enrollment of over 800 students. The Undergraduate Program consists of two concentrations that lead to the Bachelor of Science degree: (1) Health Promotion and (2) Sports Medicine. The Graduate Program has an enrollment which is limited to approximately 30 students who may obtain a Master of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science. Graduate students may also major in the Exercise and Nutrition Interdisciplinary Program, which is offered in conjunction with the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. Faculty conduct cutting edge research in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

Outreach programs which provide quality services for the community and valuable hands-on learning experiences for students include: the Heart Disease Prevention Program, Adult Fitness, Noon Hour Faculty and Staff Fitness Program, and Youth Sport Camps.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 1996-2005

The Department name was changed from Exercise and Sport Science to Health and Exercise Science in order to reflect the new health related emphasis of the department and degree programs.

The Graduate Program was completely revised based upon the new direction of the department and input from alumni of the program.

The undergraduate curriculum (concentrations in health promotion and sports medicine) was revised and reduced to 120 credits.

Holding true to our mission, we led a successful campus wide effort for the inclusion of health and wellness in the new all university core curriculum.

In response to student feedback and in order to streamline departmental advising efforts, a position was established of Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising and Internships.

Graduate and undergraduate students have received a number of academic honors and several have been commencement speakers.

The quality of our graduate students has consistently improved during this period in part due to enhanced recruiting efforts and enhancements in our graduate faculty. Average verbal and quantitative combined GRE scores increased from 1020 in 1993 to 1178 by 2001, and currently the average is the highest in the College.

Seven new tenure line faculty were strategically hired during this period to strengthen our research infrastructure in clinical biomechanics, neurophysiology, cardiovascular physiology, integrative biology, cellular bioenergetics and epidemiology. Start-up packages of over $1,500,000 have been provided to attract these high quality researchers.

External funding for this period ($3,910,511) increased 19,550% + over the previous 7-year period. (Presently, HES faculty hold external grants totaling $2,158,698, with anticipated research expenditures of $600,000+ for FY04-05.)

Development efforts increased from approximately $15,000 during the previous 8-year period to $1,000,000+ during 1996-2004.

The dedication of the Human Performance Clinical/Research Laboratory in May 2000 was a highlight of this period. This 1.8 million dollar facility houses a million plus dollars worth of state of the art research equipment and infrastructure.

Over 3.5 million dollars has been invested in remodeling South College Gym, Moby B- wing, Moby A130 teaching lab, and the Moby C-wing weight room and cardio area during this period.

Faculty have received numerous campus teaching and research awards during the current 8-year time period.

Faculty are actively involved in leadership roles at the national and international level in prestigious scientific societies.

Outreach programs have been upgraded and continue to experience unprecedented growth. These include Adult Fitness, Faculty and Staff Noon-Hour Fitness program, Youth Sports Camps and the Heart Disease Prevention Program (established in May 2000).

The department code has been revised with performance expectations clearly delineated.

A Ph.D. Program in Bioenergetics is under review with an anticipated start date of Fall 2006.

RESEARCH – TEACHING CONNECTION

**The best faculty members don’t simply teach the works of others; rather, they themselves discover, create and innovate. They make active contributions to what is taught, thought, disseminated and practiced around the world.

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University. For more information contact:

Department of Health and Exercise Science
220 Moby-B Complex
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1582

Phone: (970) 491-5081
FAX: (970) 491-0445
Email: hesinfo@cahs.colostate.edu