Exercise science at UC Davis is about to undergo a makeover–beefing up its faculty, reshaping its academic identity and widening its whole-body perspective to include a genomics point of view.
Beginning July 1, the department–currently part of the Division of Social Sciences–will become a Division of Biological Sciences program in exercise biology. The new program will focus on the effects of exercise on human health, physiology, biomechanics and behavior–all the way down to the level of genes.
Faculty members and administrators anticipate the move will foster cross-disciplinary research and education in physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, medicine, genomics and other fields.
"We will be unique" in the nation, said Chuck Fuller, chair of exercise science and professor of neurobiology, physiology and behavior. "There is nobody else that will have exercise biology in the framework we’ll be establishing ourselves."
Mark McNamee, dean of biological sciences, called exercise biology a "value-added program" for the biological sciences division.
"We really think that this will enrich our programs in integrative biology," said McNamee, predicting that exercise biology will attract top-caliber students and faculty members. "Exercise biology complements the program in the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center and expands the links between biology and medicine."
Although exercise science is changing its administrative address, its current four faculty members will remain in Hickey Gym.
However, Fuller said four new faculty members to be hired over the next five years will have appointments in existing biological sciences sections. Recruiting for the first two positions will begin this summer.
The major has been revamped, with the changes taking effect fall 2001. Changes will include lower-division requirements similar to other biology majors and a new yearlong core exercise-biology course.
Exercise science has long been a popular major, with more than 400 students.
However, budget cuts and retirements in the early 1990s pared the department’s faculty from 10 members to four. Two emeriti professors were continuously recalled to teach in recent years. With plans to expand the faculty, Fuller said the program is seeking to lift its impacted status and open its enrollment to new majors again.
McNamee said the remaking of the program is already attracting the interest of some of the nation’s top exercise scientists. A number have visited the campus to participate in a seminar series over the last two years.
"There’s a lot of excitement about what we’re doing here at UC Davis," McNamee said.
Efforts to develop a new direction for exercise science began more than two years ago. The department grew up with physical education and Intercollegiate Athletics. "We had to unravel the three decades of history to separate the administrative pieces, while keeping everything healthy," Fuller said.
A year ago, physical education became a freestanding, non-degree program in the Division of Social Sciences.
Fuller said exercise biology will operate like a center for the next five years. Whether the program ultimately becomes the biological-sciences division’s sixth section, gets absorbed into another section or takes another path will be determined primarily by the division’s faculty, he said.
Fuller said the changes in the program have widespread support among exercise-science faculty members and students.
"I’m certainly excited," said Bob Holly, senior lecturer in exercise science. "I think it’s a great move forward for the program."