<p>Just got an email from Dean Boyer this morning. He says that the College has decided to drop physical fitness and swim test from graduation requirements.</p>
<p>I do not approve of this change, but I would like to hear what everyone else has to say about this change. I would also like to get some inputs from alumni and parents. The email is nowhere to be found online, but here is the first paragraph:</p>
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[quote]
Beginning with Autumn Quarter 2012, Physical Education and Athletics courses will no longer be a requirement for graduation from the College and students will no longer need to complete fitness and swim testing. Instead, all students in the University will be invited to participate in an expanded array of voluntary offerings in our physical education, athletics and recreation programs... In practice, these changes mean that College students will no longer be required to take a specific number of Physical Education classes. That non-academic requirement was created by the University Dean of Students in 1953, and it has never been part of the credit-based curriculum of the College. Now, almost sixty years later, the successor to the University Dean of Students and the Dean of the College, together with other key University representatives, have decided to create a new model of physical education, athletics and recreation, open to all students at the University of Chicago.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Basically what all this means is that physical education will now be voluntary.</p>
<p>Oh come on, of all things to get rid of in the core, they decide to get rid of one of the easiest and arguably beneficial requirements?
If they want to fix up the core, reduce the ridiculous Physical Sciences requirements and Biological sciences requirements. The core bio classes and core phy sci classes are nearly worthless and there are complaints about bio all the time.
The P.E. test is so easy to place out of (I’m a non-athlete who passed with flying colors) and if you’re in poor enough physical condition to fail that test, a P.E. requirement might not be so bad in the long run.</p>
<p>Kind of odd timing, isn’t it, 10 days before first years move in? I believe they have already received word on the my.uchicago portal that the swim test is imminent…</p>
<p>Only a handful of students fail the swim test every year. In that case, you just have to take a fun swimming course (graded P/F I believe - correct me if I am wrong - being a swimmer myself, I have never taken that course). </p>
<p>Everyone needs to take three quarters of physical fitness courses by default. However, the fitness test allows students to place out one quarter, two quarters, or all three quarters of fitness courses. All PE courses are graded P/F and everyone passes as long as you show up and do some running/yoga/golf yada yada yada.</p>
<p>Starting this year, none of these is required.</p>
<p>I think a fair number of people wound up needing to take a quarter or two of PE. The tests were not hard, per se, but included things like flexibility, which lots of relatively fit people may not have.</p>
<p>Wow! I was just about to email them to ask if they could waive my swim test, step test, bench press etc. because I have a heart condition. I’m so relieved!!!</p>
<p>I don’t see it as much of a big deal since many many students paticipate in intramural or club sports. And the voluntary PE activites will be greatly expanded for students who are still interested in things like archery, yoga, etc. as well as athlectic and recreation programs.</p>
<p>If you asked someone about removing the Humanities from the Core, it would be as if you got rid of Core itself. But the PE was mostly viewed as a “requirement” and a “hurdle” as opposed to an “experience” like Humanities or Sosc. So it’s removal is not a monumental thing for me personally.</p>
<p>Not a big deal IMO. The physical education requirement was never large enough to make a significant impact on the health and fitness of U of C students. Forcing students into set PE courses wasn’t necessary and the resources are probably better served elsewhere.</p>
<p>My dad is actually very bummed out about this, he thought it made the curriculum “a TRULY well rounded one”. As for me, well, I’m definitely still taking archery (which I tried out for the first time BEFORE The Hunger Games), and for some reason I feel like I’ve been robbed my swimming test.</p>
<p>I was actually pretty miffed about this. It was nice to “have to” take a few classes my first year and get to explore the athletics facilities/stuff you might not have taken otherwise. I wonder they’ll be downsizing the class offerings, as I’m not sure how many students will take those classes if they aren’t required.</p>
<p>And with regards to the swim test - seriously, they let you pass even if you doggy paddle the entire way, and if you opt out, you just have to take a class. I thought it was a reasonable requirement.</p>
<p>^The email said they are expanding the options, so making PE courses more accessible! For me I was slightly worried about the test and it was causing me stress, but I’m hoping to take a PE class anyways to relax and be healthy and now I can do it any year I want and don’t have to worry about fulfilling the requirement.</p>