Contact: Brad Heegel, Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 351-3602
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu

November 11, 2004

Exercise Science, Fitness Management Program Endorsed

SIOUX FALLS - Students pursuing health and fitness or clinical exercise professions at Augustana College will study in one of the select programs now endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), widely considered the gold standard in health and fitness certifications and professional memberships.

Following review of more than 40 programs in the first year, ACSM endorsed Augustana's fitness management and exercise science curriculum as meeting the academic standards needed to prepare students for health, fitness and/or clinical exercise training and positions. The fitness management and exercise science curriculum covers the knowledge, skills, and abilities to prepare students for the ACSM health/fitness instructor certification examination.

"This endorsement reflects that our program is rigorous and will prepare students to go into the field as exercise professionals," says Sherry Barkley, coordinator for Augustana's exercise science and fitness management program.

Currently, 35 students are majoring in exercise science and fitness management at Augustana.

This prestigious endorsement creates a pathway for Augustana to offer students the following benefits:

• On campus access to ACSM-written credentialing examinations to qualified students.
• Feedback from ACSM on student performance, including examination scores and knowledge, skills and abilities required for health and fitness certification.
• Unique professional development opportunities for students and faculty through ACSM programs.

ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.