The verdict is in, and credits for recreation classes were spared the chopping block.

The chancellor's cabinet, in a meeting on Feb. 2, put to rest the rumors and speculations that starting next semester recreation classes would be offered sans credit.

"We all agreed to continue offering the courses as they have been, one credit each," UAF Provost Paul Reichardt said of the group's decision.

The plan proposed by Reichardt would have eliminated academic credit for classes ranging from ballroom dance to ice skating, and even yoga and billiards.  The classes would have still been offered but without the possibility for credit, similar to programs already offered by the Student Recreational Center.

That point seemed to be the crux of Reichardt's proposal.

"The Rec Center offers identical courses, just not for credit," Reichardt said.  He felt that if the SRC took control of all the recreation classes they could be offered for less money than the set amount required for credit courses.

UAF currently charges $90 per recreation course for residents and $281 for non-residents.  The SRC's instructional activities, including programs such as aerobics and kickboxing, cost $40 each.

 After speaking to a group of concerned students, Reichardt said he learned just how important that one credit hour can be. 

 For one thing, Reichardt said, the credit hour encouraged students to keep up with their chosen exercise.

"The students told me the possibility of an ‘F' is a huge motivation for attendance."

Many students take one or two of the one-credit-hour recreation courses in order to flesh out a schedule just shy of the full-time status required for scholarships and other financial aid.

Several students, including Travis Veazey, a third year computer science major, feared any move to eliminate credit would severely cut enrollment in recreation courses, leading to their eventual cancellation.  Veazey sent out a mass email prompting students to voice their concern.

Ultimately, however, the chancellor's cabinet chose to continue offering the recreation courses, Reichardt said, to encourage healthy breadth in the undergraduate experience. 

"I'm a big fan of exercise, it's an important part of life," Reichardt said, "and we have an obligation to make recreation courses available to our students."

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