Concentration in Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Wellness Earns Accreditation

Concentration in Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Wellness Earns Accreditation

Adapting program offerings to changing professional landscapes is one of the hallmarks of Ithaca College's approach to providing a relevant educational experience. The latest example involves revisions to the Exercise Science curriculum for students interested in the rapidly developing interdisciplinary field of strength and conditioning across the lifespan.

The Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE) has awarded full accreditation to the concentration in Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Wellness in Ithaca College's degree program in Exercise Science. The accreditation is good for the next five years.

The move is timely, since beginning in 2030 all strength and conditioning graduates who want to sit for the national certification exam will need to have graduated from an accredited program.

The CASCE approval makes Ithaca one of just two schools in the state and 17 in the country to have an accredited undergraduate strength and conditioning program.

Christina Moylan, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, said that seeking accreditation was a highly strategic and intentional decision. "Strength and Conditioning has been a core part of our Exercise Science program for many years, thanks to our fantastic teachers and facilities. We had all the right ingredients, so it makes sense for us to be the forefront of the growing accreditation movement for the field.

"But you don't want to get accredited in just anything, she continued. "You ask yourself, 'What are our strengths? Where's the workforce going?' and you use those to guide your decision."

A key component in deciding to obtain this accreditation was understanding how the field of strength and conditioning is evolving. Once the focus of those seeking improved athletic performance, it's taken on a greater importance to the entire population, particularly as that population ages.

"As we were starting this process, we asked ourselves, 'Where do our students work after they graduate?'" said Chris Hummel, clinical professor and chair of the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training. "Many of them work at community centers or YMCAs, and at places like that, you could be working with everyone from a five-year old kid to an 85-year-old, so it's critical that the program provides training to work with that diverse set of individuals."

The accreditation process has taken place over the last two years. The school had to complete an extensive self-study and answer a multitude of questions about how the concentration fit into the program, and the kinds of opportunities that are made available to students. Site reviewers then came to the college to observe, interview faculty and staff, and examine facilities before making their final decision.

Those facilities will be getting a major upgrade this fall with the completion of a new Wellness and Performance lab that will feature state-of-the-art equipment such as a metabolic cart and an agility track. The hope is that the lab, which was funded by a $100,000 grant from the Alden Trust - which supports projects that directly impact the quality of the delivery of a school's undergraduate academic offerings - will be fully ready for use by the end of October.

"The lab will transform the coursework that the professors offer by allowing hands-on experience to be integrated into classroom work," said Moylan. "It really helps the program drive home the college's broader educational philosophy of theory, practice and performance."