Meeting & Agendas

Meeting called to order by Pam Soto, Department Chair for ACC’s Personal Fitness Trainer Program. Members at the meeting introduced themselves.

Members at the PFT meeting unanimously elected new Chair and Vice Chair. The newly elected Chair is Toni Bauer and the elected Vice Chair is Karyna Elizondo.

Pam Soto revisited a Personal Fitness Trainer survey that she collected from current and prospective PFT students a year ago. Pam Soto presented her findings to the board members. From Pam Soto’s survey, the data showed an 85% completion rate of students in the PFT program. The age average for PFT students showed to be 20-39 years of age. The gender was split in the middle for females and males in the program. The zip code with the most students showed to live in the 786 area, 77% of the students were from this zip. When students were asked the reason for doing the program, the answer was personal revelation, commitment, and personal intent, to help others. When students were asked the disadvantages and advantages of the PFT program at ACC these were their responses: Advantages were the AAS degree, cost, practical and formal setting and the Prep for National Exam Certification. The disadvantages were location, length of time and the application process. The board members had the opportunity to discuss these findings. Further assessment of the findings will be discussed in future meetings.

Pam Soto proposed adding FITT 2331/2031 to the degree plan. The change will make the program more marketable. The members agreed to add the class.

Pam Soto proposed making the change for students to be able to take either KINE 1306 or KINE 2356 for the AAS. The members agreed to make the change proposed by Pam Soto.

Paul Smith had questions regarding liability insurance and tattoos. Both questions were addressed by Pam Soto and the members. ACC students do have liability insurance and tattoos are addressed at each practicum site on a one to one basis. There was additional discussion targeting students who were not finishing in the program due to the fact that they could not be hired by some facilities with the certificate they earn at ACC as it is not NCCA accredited. Students who complete the program still have to sit and pass national exams that are accepted as NCCA accredited. Eileen Klein, Dean of Health Sciences, voiced concern as a study that shows a link between gaining NCCA accreditation and hiring of the completer by the industry would have to be established to justify the cost of gaining accreditation. She also said other health science programs have the same situation as the Personal Fitness Trainer program. Members suggested this possibility of NCCA accreditation be looked into further. Michele Melkerson-Granyrd volunteered to send the website information of NCCA to the department chair. Pam Soto will then look into the cost and requirements of NCCA accreditation.

Meeting is adjourned by Pam Soto.