University News

Kinesiology Students Create Program to Improve Employee Health

April 25, 2007

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MACOMB, IL -- One of Western Illinois University's core values is personal growth, which encompasses individual health, wellness and personal responsibility. WIU kinesiology students in Cathy McMillan's Senior Seminar (KIN 401) class have taken that wellness component to heart.

The students, as part the University's Employee Wellness Program sponsored by Human Resources, have devised a fitness program – with the aid of technology and their expertise – for Western employees to begin using this summer. The 20-member class has worked all semester creating podcasts, complete with music and fitness tips, to complement walking trails, which have been mapped out by Physical Plant personnel as part of the University's facilities master plan. The official walking trails will be unveiled during the Fall 2007 semester.

"Part of the University's Strategic Plan does focus on employee wellness. A few years ago, we reinstated the Employee Wellness Program through Human Resources which pairs WIU employees with exercise science students for an individualized, semester-long fitness program. The wellness program is a combined effort from Jackie Thompson (vice president for administrative services), Pam Bowman (Human Resources director) and our department," McMillan explained. "As part of the employee program, Jackie came up with a new component: designated walking trails throughout campus. Because of her vision, Physical Plant staff have estimated the distance of each walking trail on campus and then my students took it from there, actually walking the courses and using pedometers, measuring various stride lengths and actual distances."

Students formed four- to five-person groups and were each assigned two walking trails, McMillan added. Each group is responsible for creating a podcast that will focus on a particular aspect of fitness, along with music, that individuals can download and then listen to while walking the paths.

The first group, which is comprised of Kimberly King, Heath Foster, Kyle Gares and Tiffany Minne, have created podcasts for Rocky's Run and Horrabin Hike. The one-half mile Rocky's Run path podcast will feature target heart rate and exertion information.

"We talk about the importance of reaching your target heart rate and the right way to take your heart rate," Minne said. "We will have cues throughout the podcast as to when the person should take his or her heart rate."

The one-half mile Horrabin Hike podcast will focus on calories and weight loss. Minne added that an example of a tip would be "it would take 'xx' miles to burn the calories from a slice of cheese pizza."

Group two, composed of Jake Chaffee, John Sicora, Mike Wilson and Scott Mezzano, tackled the one-mile Northside Trail and the quarter-mile Thompson Triangle. According to Chaffee, the Northside Trail podcast will focus on stress management and relaxation techniques, while the Thompson hike will be a "morning show" format focusing on walking gaits, finding the right type of exercise shoe and various shoes on the market.

"During the Northside Trail podcast we talk a lot about various breathing and relaxation techniques," said Chaffee. "We give an example of a arm shake to relax the upper body, and our music is light."

The third group, which includes Elton Fernandes, Kiauna Rice, Andria Diamond and Lee Settles, took on the Lake Ruth Circle, a quarter-mile trail, and the challenging one-mile South Side Trail. Rice explained that the Lake Ruth Circle hike will include "Did You Know" type fitness tips.

"For instance, one of our tips is 'Did you know that for every 3,500 calories burned, a pound is lost," she added. "And every 30 seconds we'll have a chime that will signal a new fitness tip."

Fernandes said the South Side Trail podcast will focus on the "FIT (frequency, intensity, time) principal" and nutrition.

"This 25-minute hike will feature tips like 'eat breakfast everyday' and 'drink six to eight glasses of water daily,'" Fernandes said.

Diamond added that due to the challenging – and roundabout route – of the South Side Trail, the podcast will also include landmark notations, such as East Village, so those participants using this trail know they are on the right track.

Each group was responsible for selecting the music to complement their podcast, and the class is also currently reviewing where the walking trail signs should be placed around campus. The Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT) is working with the class to download the podcasts, McMillan added.

The fourth group, made up of Brad Parotto, Brandon Bucaro, Luke Maynard and Julie Webster, are responsible for the Sallee Trail, a one-quarter mile hike, and the half-mile Western Way trail. Parotto explained that the Sallee Trail podcast talks about walking safety, such as always let someone know where you are going, take a cell phone and avoid unpopulated areas.

"We also discuss the importance of being aware of your surroundings, as well as some before- and after-exercise tips," Parotto said.

Bucaro said the Western Way podcast focus is on extra things someone can do everyday to increase their physical activity.

"For instance, park your car further away from the entrance of a building and walk the extra distance, or take the stairs instead of the elevator," he said.

The final group, comprised of Nicci Kielion, Beth Ewing, Katie Zemovich and Kaz Yoshimoto, has created podcasts for Sherman Way, which is one-quarter mile, and the Lamoine Circuit, which is a three-quarter mile trail. The Sherman Way podcast is a campus tour of sorts, accompanied by interactive exercises -- such as "stop here and complete 10 jumping jacks," McMillan said. The Lamoine Circuit podcast is called "Think Before You Drink," a program about hydration and calories found in beverages.

The class agreed that while the project has been "a lot of work," they see the benefits of not only creating this for Western employees, but for themselves.

"Having this experience should be a valuable asset for us after college," Foster said.

McMillan said that her future classes will create new podcasts for the trails to be added to what she hopes will be a growing list of programs for walking trail participants to choose from.

"Anything we can do to help get employees motivated and healthy is a great project," McMillan added. "I'm proud of my students and the work they have done. They are providing a valuable service to help the Western community become healthier."



Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing