catalog - Prairie State College

STUDENT LIFE2006-2008 CATALOGSTUDENTLIFEFITNESS, ATHLETICS & ACADEMICCOMPETITIONWhether your goal is basic fitness or participating on one of ourintercollegiate athletic teams, we have the staff and programs tomeet your needs. A variety of Physical Education courses arealso offered; course descriptions are included later in this catalog.For the current semester’s PE courses, consult the schedule.For more information on Physical Education & IntramuralSports contact (708) 709-3929; for information on IntercollegiateSports contact (708) 709-7837.FITNESS CENTER & PRAIRIE CENTERLocated in the Tech Wing on the west side of the Main Building,our Fitness Center provides you with treadmills, stairclimbers,recumbent bikes, ellipticals and Magnum strength equipment.Individual fitness levels are assessed by our well-trained, friendlystaff, and a personalized program is designed to help youachieve fitness-related goals.The program is a 1-credit hourcourse with a pre-test and post-test evaluation, plus attendanceand lecture requirements.There is a small lab fee.The Prairie Center, located across the hall from the FitnessCenter, features an indoor training field and a basketball court.An approximately one-mile Fitness Trail is part of the Prairie& Nature Preserve, located to the south and east of ParkingLot A on the Main Campus.INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICSExperienced coaches, great facilities and motivated student-athleteshave combined to grow a winning program at PSC. Severalscholarship opportunities are available, as is help if you’re planningto transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’sdegree.Men’s sports:• Baseball• Basketball• Cross Country• Golf• SoccerWomen’s sports:• Basketball• Cross Country• Soccer• Softball• VolleyballPrairie State College teams are the Pioneers, and theCollege is a proud member of the National Junior CollegeAthletic Association (NJCAA), which promotes and fosterscommunity college athletics on regional and national levels.ThePioneers often compete against junior varsity teams from fouryearcolleges and universities as well.We are also a member of the Skyway Community CollegeConference, along with seven other community colleges innorthern Illinois: College of Lake County, Elgin CommunityCollege, McHenry County College, Moraine Valley CommunityCollege, Morton College, Oakton Community College andWaubonsee Community College.Consider these recent accomplishments:• The men’s basketball team ended its inaugural season witha record of 21-9 and was ranked third (out of 13) inNJCAA Region IV District II.• The baseball team won the Calumet College Fall 2003Classic, besting four four-year colleges and three othertwo-year colleges.• Over the past few years, 65 percent of our players havetransferred as juniors to four-year institutions, with severalearning athletic and academic scholarships to their newschools.• Fall 2006 marks the addition of volleyball to the PSCintercollegiate sports program.INTRAMURAL SPORTSThrough the Department of Physical Education & Athletics, theCollege organizes recreational activities through its popularintramural sports program. Recent competition has includedvolleyball, flag football, basketball, table tennis, swimming andtable games.SPEECH TEAM & COLLEGE BOWLPrairie State College has a winning tradition in academic competitionas well. Our Forensics Team competes well at local,regional and national tournaments through Phi Rho Pi, thenational honor society for speech competitors in two-yearcolleges. PSC students have received individual and team medalsin categories including dramatic interpretation, poetry interpretation,impromptu speaking and program oral interpretation andoften go on to compete after transferring to four-year schools.As members of the Skyway Community CollegeConference, the College has also entered teams in CollegeBowl competitions. Competing in rounds of “Jeopardy!”-stylequizzes, students test their knowledge in subjects such as science,current events, fine arts and history.The team won tworegional tournaments and captured the state crown in 2004.The Skyway Conference also sponsors events in art, jazzand writing. In recent years PSC students have entered andplaced in these competitions.36