Proposal

Narrative

Narrative: As undergraduate and graduate student research continues to increase, so does the need for the latest, state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, the increase in the amount of Exercise Science students have attributed to the need of an additional digital weight scale. The department did receive one scale in 2013 with the technology fee grant, but needs to replace 23+ year old scale. The newer scale is currently used for the undergraduate course PET 4947. The other older scale is shared between the biochemistry and skeletal muscle labs, as well as the classes APK 4110L Exercise Physiology Lab, PET 4550L Exercise Testing Lab, and PET 5521 Exercise Science Lab Methods. A new scale would benefit the undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and the community. Therefore, I am submitting this technology fee grant for a body weight scale. For strategic plan (pillars, platforms, goals), in summary, this scale would involve the area of health and wellness, in which we would definitely be cultivating and teaching the ESHP majors, both graduate and undergraduate, the latest technology to prepare them for their future internships and jobs within our field. The portable metabolic testing provides undergraduate research and inquiry with more opportunities. In addition, this device would involve the area of neuroscience, in which the bodyweight scale device can be used in research relating to Alzheimer’s disease. The body weight scale provides hands on practical applications and research experience for the ESHP students. The students would have research and scholarship opportunities, plus, be able to prepare for graduate level research programs, while creating various research projects, not just within the department, but with other departments and the community. If this request is funded, the equipment would be introduced and used yearly (all three semesters) by more than 900 FAU students [600 to 800 Exercise Science and Health Promotion majors]. ESHP students, graduate and undergraduate, will also have the opportunity to be trained on the system. As you know, the FAU ESHP degree is a very popular major at FAU, currently, we are the fourth largest (over 1200+students) undergraduate degree, plus 60+ master’s students. Upgrading the department’s technology with this equipment, the students will be prepared to work and study with state-of-the-art equipment. 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. These particular opportunities, of having the latest in technology, provide the student a marketable advantage, not only for a job, but for advanced training at the master’s and/or doctorate level. The student also becomes more aware of the process of acquiring scientific knowledge and understanding advanced technology, which will generate more interest in their classes and possibly research. In summary, purchasing the scale will allow the ESHP graduate and undergraduate students, as well as the community to gain further knowledge about health, wellness, and research. 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 technology. In fact, this application would enhance 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.

Facilities

No renovations or upgrades will be required.

Hardware Requirements

Digital scale would comply with standards. Operates with a regular 120 v outlet.

Software Requirements

None

Personnel Costs

None

Other Costs

Shipping would be $200.

Timeline

When monies are available, the order will be placed immediately to ensure arrival by the beginning of the summer term for use in classes and research.

Sustainability

This equipment requested is state-of-the-art, so the sustainability should be a minimum of fifteen to twenty years. This particular technology will be maintained by the Exercise Science lab manager, research assistants, and faculty.

Resource Matching

Not available at this time.

Implementing Organization

The Exercise Science and Health Promotion faculty (me) and graduate students will implement the set up and installation of the equipment in conjunction with the College of Education for the software. No additional costs or resource restraints will be needed.