The status of physical education programs in the community colleges and junior colleges in Tennessee.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of physical education programs in the community colleges and junior colleges in Tennessee. The following areas were selected for study: characteristics of the institution; physical education faculty; physical education curriculum (service/activity classes); program evaluation procedures; physical education curriculum (professional); and facilities.

A questionnaire was sent to ten community colleges and five junior colleges. The data were tabulated in terms of raw score responses and as a percentage of the total responses according to a classification system which compared community colleges and junior colleges.

The following conclusions were drawn from the study: (1) Each institution has a required service/activity program and the vast majority has a one-year requirement. (2) Community colleges use the quarter system while junior colleges use the semester academic calendar. (3) The letter grade system is the method used for assigning grades. (4) The majority of full-time faculty possess the master's degree. (5) The vast majority of institutions schedule service/activity classes two days per week for fifty-minute periods. (6) Interest in fitness activities, recreational activities, and individual and dual sports has increased during the past five years. (7) There has been a decrease in interest in gymnastics, team sports, and rhythms and dance activities during the past five years. (8) Professional physical education courses are offered in the vast majority of the institutions. (9) Substitutions are allowed for service/activity classes in the majority of the colleges. (10) Community colleges offer a larger variety of service/activity classes than the junior colleges. (11) Intramural activities and intercollegiate sports are provided in the vast majority of the institutions.