Proposal

Narrative:  This technology fee request for a replacement Equi-test system is to advance the efficiency of training FAU undergraduate and graduate students in the methods of visual acuity, vestibular training (concussion) exercises in exercise science and neuromuscular teaching and research. Reading this narrative, you will see how closely this equipment fits into FAU's QEP and overall strategic plan.  This request, if funded, will be introduced and used yearly by more than 700 FAU students [400 to 500 Exercise Science and Health Promotion majors, 200 FAU athletes (see attached support letter from FAU’s Athletic Director), and over 100 students in Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, specifics follow within this narrative].  Currently, the Exercise Science and Health Promotion (ESHP) Department is working closely with FAU Athletics, base lining all the FAU football team, 200 players in the past two years, then assessing them (IRB approved protocol) after any concussion, using the Equi-test balance system.  The assessments are also used as one more assessment, as a return-to-play.  Exercise Science students, graduate and undergraduate, have assisted faculty in this line of research.  The system is also used in several courses, not only in our department, but Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, to be discussed later.

As you know, the FAU Exercise Science degree is a very popular course of study, currently, the fifth largest (over 1000⁺students) undergraduate degree, plus 60⁺ master’s students. The students graduating from this department go into various successful career paths and advanced degrees.  With continuing to upgrade the department’s technology, the students are prepared to work and study with state-of-the-art equipment.  The department’s labs are utilized daily for student learning and research. All of the faculty efforts, in the labs, are designed to instruct the students about exercise science techniques with strong emphasis on the scientific methods of inquiry. This focus is to ensure the student’s understanding of the practical applications of the major, plus knowing the current and appropriate methods to access techniques with the latest technology used in real world settings.  Currently, many of the exercise science majors are advancing to more medical-oriented careers, such as physical therapy, physician’s assistant, orthopedic, and research.  Many of these businesses do have an Equi-Test system.  These particular opportunities give the student a marketable advantage, not only for a job, but for advanced training at the doctorate level.   The student also becomes more aware of the process of acquiring scientific knowledge and understanding neuromuscular and concussion relationships, which will generate more interest in their classes and possibly research.

 The goal of this proposal is for the exercise science students to enhance their learning in the laboratory and research with the latest technology equipment, regarding the areas of concussion and neuromuscular physiology.  One of the best impacts on their education is when they actually go into the exercise science labs to use what they have learned in the regular classroom setting.  Dr. Sue Graves has been using this equipment for research with the FAU football team, as previously stated.  She has pretested the players, who are FAU undergraduate students (200 in the past two years).  If they sustain a concussion, she goes through an approved IRB protocol for an additional assessment for return to play.  She has also worked with the team orthopedic physician.  She has trained undergraduate and graduate students to use the equipment. Also, Dr. Mike Whitehurst has used the Equi-test equipment in his course, Neurophysiology of Human Movement, PET 3050 (300 students per year) and Aging, Decision-Making and Mobility, PET 5077 (20 per year), a graduate course.  The students come to the exercise science lab(s) to learn about visual acuity and vestibular training, plus other techniques. If this technology is updated, Dr. Ali Danish, Communication Sciences and Disorders, will also use this equipment with his master’s students (100 per year).  Dr. Graves also is teaching an undergraduate evaluating research course, PET 4550C, starting Spring 2015, capacity is 30.  She plans to have an active laboratory component, introducing the undergraduates, not only to the Equi-test, but to other ways to collect data and use this equipment.  The potential of updating the equipment will assist in the future planning of this course.  Currently, this Equi-test technology is over 15 years old.  If the current system fails, the opportunity to teach and research in this area becomes very inadequate, plus the fifteen year old technology is limited. Knowledge of concussions and concussion research are very pertinent topics, plus the other assessments available on this equipment are on the cutting edge of assessing balance and other vestibular issues. This equipment will give significant improvements to the existing research structure, enhancing the scope and productivity of exercise science research training.

The Equi-test offers an additional option to track the direction of head movement and duration of training performance, which we currently do not have.  The equipment can also capture accuracy of visual acuity at the point of retinal slit, plus set parameters for target head movement velocity specific to an individuals’ need, plus availability to customize this training, all importance in balance and mobility issues. Hence, the reason Dr. Danesh wants to have his students use the equipment, too.  This new and exciting technology, to offer to our FAU students (not just within the department) and future research, is exhilarating. The equipment will 

• deliver more opportunities to research concussion issues in athletes.

• provide objective documentation of balance control functions in many populations. 

• give the ability to design complex sensory and motor challenges to emulate real world conditions.

• allow full access to two independent force plates to accurately demonstrate the impact of those challenges on human balance performance. 

Therefore, this technological fee award would be used to purchase the equipment to upgrade and replace the fifteen year old Equi-Test system. This system would definitely elevate student training, plus advance their understanding of this particular work.  The Exercise Science and Health Promotion Department graduate and undergraduate students, interested faculty, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, and athletics (especially, the football team) would all benefit.  The proposed goal will improve student training efficiency on their specific techniques, benefit graduate student projects by having another updated piece of equipment, plus increase student research training on this new updated equipment.  In fact, this Technology Fee application focuses on the FAU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) initiative regarding improvements to student training.  Thus, this application is an excellent and timely investment in regards to FAU’s research structure, plus would not need to be updated for over fifteen years.

Regarding FAU’s Strategic Plan and QEP, this project does align strongly with both. The Strategic Plan (Goal 1) focuses on increasing access to higher education and to research activities and technology.  This particular updated technology will allow the Exercise Science Laboratory to meet this particular goal by increasing the range of offerings and enhancing the effectiveness of training for students.  Another goal of the Strategic Plan (Goal 3) is to build world-class academic programs and research capacity.  Again, this particular proposal will accomplish this goal.  This technology will positively enhance the research lab, which is already successful, plus increase the level of sophistication in training students, and the production of graduates with master’s degrees in exercise science and, even, Communication Sciences and Disorders Department.  This equipment will definitely increase the prominence of FAU Exercise Science research offerings.  In addition, this upgrading will continue to raise the visibility of FAU in the South Florida community and academic groups. The student’s research involvement will be much greater, plus, they will be able to apply the research to practical health and fitness issues.   The ESHP Department does have a solid reputation outside the University, but this equipment will assist in making it much better, not only locally, but nationally (Goal 7).  In conclusion, this particular equipment will allow the training of the future leaders in the field of exercise science and health promotion, plus the ability to test and assess elite professional athletes and other populations in a controlled setting.