The Physical Education and Professional Community (PEPC) is a Living-Learning Community housed in Centennial Court F. PEPC is for incoming first and second year students, transfer, and commuter students whose intention is to pursue a degree in physical education: teacher licensure in physical education or health and physical education, human movement studies, athletic training, or exercise science.
Along the path to becoming an effective physical educator and/or practical/technical/clinical certified athletic trainer, members of PEPC will:
- Form a personal philosophy that emphasizes integrity, concern for others, value of health and physical activity and an appreciation for differences among people.
- Study and practice the pedagogical and technical skills necessary to facilitate a person’s learning of physical activity, injury and prevention and healthy, active lifestyle choices.
- Develop technological skills needed in education for the 21st century.
- Develop a commitment to the education of all.
- Develop a commitment to the education of children and adults for a lifetime.
To remain in good standing once you join PEPC, students are required to attend monthly meetings and attend study tables or tutorials as designed to aid academic success. It is our goal that students come to realize that the connections they are making by being a community member has many benefits that will last throughout their educational and professional careers.
Some benefits a student can expect to gain from participation in this community:
- Students who are in the community take courses together which connects them to the major and their major program faculty.
- Students live in the same residence hall or commute to meet in the residence hall to study together, use the computer lab, and have a central meeting place.
- The students in the community form a close-knit peer group who share a commitment to creating personal and societal healthy active lifestyles. These students walk to classes together, elect to be together for group projects, and participate in university sponsored activities together. (i.e. intramurals, attend athletic events, using the Recreation & Wellness Center)
Benefits of living in the PEPC include:
- Close, daily interaction with physical education and athletic training students and faculty, including personal faculty advising. Each student will be assigned to a personal faculty advisor and to a small group to be mentored by a sophomore, junior or senior student in the program.
The PEP & ATTR programs, which are based in the School of Exercise, Leisure and Sport, seek to provide exemplary teachers to the public school systems; exemplary athletic trainers to the school, clinical and professional settings; and exemplary exercise science and human movement majors to the profession. The national shortage of well-qualified and effective teachers and the vast need for certified and trained athletic trainers is documented across all subject areas, making the retention of prospective teachers critical to the needs of American society.
The PEP & ATTR programs use innovative curriculums and instructional approaches, encouraging future professionals to practice and advocate healthy, active lifestyle choices.
Examples of activities and programming available for PEPC are:
- Guest speakers and seminars related to the majors (.e. international and national speakers in our professional fields), community service projects, recreational youth sport teacher/coaching, collaborative peer-mentoring program, and working with high school athletic training programs for the ATTR majors.
- Social events to promote a healthy, active lifestyle and build cohesion within the community. Events might include monthly activities such as, rock climbing, bowling, volleyball, canoeing, etc.
- Curriculum-related field trips and experiences. Examples include outdoor pursuits and expeditions, youth sport observation and coaching experience, formal program field experiences, professional sport field trips, clinical observations, etc. These experiences will provide community members an environment for continuity of learning, teambuilding, and development of positive, personal and professional relationships with peers and faculty.
- In-residence seminars and visiting speakers. These seminars feature national leaders in the field of physical education and athletic training visiting PEPLC for guest lectures, discussion seminars, and/or practical workshops.
- Collaborative field experiences in suburban, urban, and rural public school, collegiate Division I athletics, and other experiences in the major fields, is an integral part of the PEP and ATTR programs.
Research on PEPC is currently being published in professional journals and has been presented at state and national conferences.
To join, request to be placed in the PEPC community on your housing application or contact Dr. Mary LaVine.