Chestnut Hill College proudly announces the establishment of its state-of-the-art exercise lab, situated adjacent to the bookstore on the ground floor of Saint Joseph Hall. Formerly a computer lab, this space has been transformed to cater to the needs of students enrolled in courses including Exercise Physiology, Exercise Testing and Prescription, and Biomechanics.According to Carolyn Albright, Ph.D., chair of health and exercise science, and professor of health and exercise science, classes are already underway in the newly renovated lab. “Having a large space for students to participate in hands on activities with advanced equipment is great for competing with other programs, but it is even better when looked at from the viewpoint of what we can provide our current and future students,” says Albright on the experiential benefits of the lab. While the current spring semester mainly features lecture-based courses, the lab allows students to familiarize themselves with the space and inspire their future studies.
Albright hopes that prospective students will be attracted to the new lab because it offers the unique opportunity to participate in hands-on experiments and lessons. Already outfitted with a metabolic cart that allows classes to conduct VO2 max and other metabolic testing, students can watch real-time data and get a feel for their future career fields such as sports nutrition or clinical diagnostic or rehabilitation jobs. Having this lab also provides opportunities for physical learning for strength and conditioning classes where students learn the science behind and proper techniques for athletic training. Luke Slavin ‘25, a student majoring in exercise science, is one of several students who have gotten a first-hand look at the lab this semester.
"With the addition of the fully stocked exercise lab, we will be able to have more space for doing different types of testing and maybe even get more equipment in this room,” notes Slavin. “Also, we now have a much larger room which doesn't feel cramped in and makes general learning easier."
The whole class took part in an experiment using the whiteboard, treadmill, and heart rate sensors to measure an estimated VO2 max reading," Slavin continues. "By being able to see and participate in this experiment as a class, we now know what this looks like and how to properly perform this experiment later when we are working with real clients."
The College looks forward to the fall semester of 2024, when lab-based courses will be fully integrated into the curriculum, providing students with enhanced hands-on learning experiences.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming lab activities as the College continues to embrace innovation in its academic endeavors.
Posted In: Academic News
