In the absence of adequate healthcare benefits, students can arm themselves with a healthy lifestyle that lessens the need to visit the doctor through helpful class offerings.

NW Campus provides students with an array of courses that serve as a form of healthcare, teaching students the importance of nutrition and exercise to keep them healthy.  

“Over the years, I have heard many things about how students have reached personal goals in their fitness and feel so good at the end of the semester,” NW administrative assistant April Miske said.

With a selection of kinesiology classes, students can build their schedule where they can benefit through aerobic exercise, diet and nutrition. Students are given access to use the gym and record their progress with provided equipment.

The gym offered several activities including volleyball, bike riding and cardiovascular exercises, according to Miske.

The department even offers an aerobics class that they cross-list with weight training, which NW associate professor of physical education Tonia Swan said gives people the results they want. 

For nutritional concepts, HECO 1322 Diet and Nutrition Therapy can teach students to be more mindful of the foods they eat and improve their lifestyle. 

“I’ve spent most of my career in the clinic working with patients,” NW adjunct kinesiology instructor Dr. Roger Shewmake said. “If you have some poor dietary habits, I can help you make some changes, but I can’t make you.” 

In HECO 1322, students are taught to be more aware of what they eat and apply some changes to their nutrition to be healthier. Students are given access to materials that they can use outside of class and share with others.

“This is not about biochemistry class. This is not a biology class. It’s not a physical activity class. It’s a class to improve your lifestyle,” said Shewmake. “We’re going to use you, the student, as a model.”

Students looking for health classes don’t need to find classes just for physical fitness. They can find classes that explore other areas of wellness.

“When you hear the word ‘wellness’ everyone thinks of fitness,” said Swan. “It’s a dimension of different kinds of wellness.”