Fitness taken seriously with start of new major

The New York State Board of Regents recently approved an undergraduate degree in physical education at Roberts Wesleyan College. The program started this fall.  
“We are very pleased to be able to offer a physical education program at this time,” said Nelson Hill, academic dean of Roberts Wesleyan College. “We know there is a demand for it. And it’s an important program - P.E. teachers are crucial to kids’ early development of healthy habits, sound nutrition, and an active lifestyle. I think we all know our country needs that now, maybe more than ever.”
The program, which is part of the Roberts’ well-established and respected Teacher Education Division, provides physical education majors with a broad understanding of human developmental processes and variations, including the impact of culture, heritage, socioeconomic level, personal health and safety, nutrition, past or present abusive or dangerous environment, and factors in the home, school, and community on students’ readiness to learn. Roberts’ P.E. program also provides skills in applying that understanding to create a safe and nurturing learning environment that fosters the health and learning of all students.
 
The physical education major takes foundational teacher education courses as well as courses in physical education - all in the College’s Christian atmosphere, developing a spirit of scholarship, spiritual formation, and service in each student.
 
The P.E. program was designed and is being led by Dr. Elaine Gregory, who has spent the last 20 years coordinating the physical education program at Syracuse University. In addition to her higher education experience, Dr. Gregory also taught for eight years at the K-12 level. She earned her Ph.D. in Teaching and Curriculum from Syracuse University; her M.S. in Physical Education from SUNY at Cortland; and her B.A. in Physical Education from Cedarville College.