KINE 112 is a popular Science and Technology course, but some students have concerns

Gwen Pemberton (she/her) // Features Editor
Yohahnah Loker (she/her) // Illustrator
Finding electives to fulfill degree requirements can be a challenge at Capilano University. It’s common to hear classmates complaining about missing prerequisites and limited time slots. This is part of what has made Kinesiology 112 Health and Human Nutrition such a popular course. It has been offered consistently since its introduction in 2021, across Spring, Fall, and Summer semesters. KINE 112 is a 100-level elective with no prerequisite requirements, and it is an approved CapU Science and Technology course, meaning students can fulfill their Cap Core requirement. In Fall 2024, there are seven sections of KINE 112 being offered, on the North Vancouver campus and online. Six are full.

Once the class begins though, some students are unpleasantly surprised. Many who have taken the course report being taken off guard by an assignment—the Dietary Analysis—which begins a week or two into the term. “I was triggered a bit myself when I started recording my meals,” said Gabi Mardini, a recent Motion Picture Arts (MOPA) graduate. Mardini added that this was not a huge concern for him personally, and that he was able to shake off his discomfort, partly due to his busy schedule. 

In the Dietary Analysis assignment, students are asked to track their food intake on three separate days, and the data is then used for various smaller assignments throughout the term. They record what they ate in grams and milliliters, as well as where and when they ate. Once the data is collected, it is analyzed to determine nutrient and calorie content. This data is then compared to Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) as recommended by Health Canada.

For many students, these parameters will pose no issues, in fact, some said that they really enjoyed the class, and that they gained a lot of insight about balanced eating from it. For others, the act of meticulously tracking and analyzing their diet can cause discomfort and bring up issues around eating and exercise, particularly for those who struggle with or have struggled with eating disorders. “Nutrition can be a very sensitive subject. But it can be a very informative subject too.” says Alan Jenks, an instructor in the School of Kinesiology who has taught KINE 112 since 2021. Jenks says that the faculty is very aware of the potential issues that can arise with the kind of tracking in the Dietary Analysis assignment, and that he and other instructors are always open to finding ways to make the content accessible to all students. 

“It’s important that students feel safe, and have the ability to express concerns around that topic,” he says. Though there have been no instances of it this term so far, Jenks says that it is not uncommon for students to raise concerns with him in class or in private meetings. “Our approach has been that if it is an issue, then all of [the instructors will] raise it in class…and we try to use a very inclusive language framework around the dietary assignment.” Matt Shipley, a recent graduate who took Jenks’ KINE 112 course in Fall 2022 remembers an “offhand mention of potential difficulties of the assignment,” but that it did not lead to any meaningful discussion in class. Jenks is hopeful that when students have problems with the content they address them with him early on, so that a solution can be found. He notes that if instructors only find out about the problems after the class is completed, there is not much that can be done to help. When issues are brought to his attention, he says, students are given the option to use data collected by instructors, rather than analyzing their own diet. If the act of tracking is itself the issue, students are able to drop the course, as the assignment parameters are made clear to students well before the end of the Add/Drop Period.

The experience of students’ aligns with this. According to multiple students, who preferred to remain anonymous, the assignment was discussed in class within the first few sessions. Gabi Mardini recalls that the instructions were also available on eLearn in “scrupulous detail.” It would appear that the problem is solved, but there is another issue. The textbook. 

In each section of KINE 112, Wardlaw’s Perspectives in Nutrition is a required text. The electronic textbook can be rented on the CapU website through McGraw Hill for 180 days at a price of $99 plus tax. With the purchase, students receive an Access Code, giving them access to the textbook, as well as software needed to complete the assignments. Due to the online nature of the text, the purchase is non-refundable. Multiple students, who again wished to remain anonymous, said that they would have dropped the course, but decided against it because of the money that they had already spent and would not be able to recoup. Concerns about finding other approved Science courses that would not delay their graduation date were also brought up.

Maria, a current KINE 112 student, was unaware that she would be required to track her diet habits before she enrolled in the class. She says she likely would not have registered if she had, and that it brings up memories of her struggle with disordered eating. For her it’s, “not that big of a deal,” although she can see how it could be a problem for others.”I personally feel quite aware of my history with [disordered eating] and I think I can do that for a week or so,” she said. 

Maria did not know that she had access to the syllabus before enrolling in the class, but even for those who do go looking, it is not entirely clear what can be expected come the start of term. The only mention of dietary analysis in the syllabus—which has not changed since 2021—reads, “Nutritional planning and assessment in the context of national dietary recommendations, and consequences of deficient or excessive intake of nutrients will also be studied.” When asked about the ambiguity of the language, Alan Jenks said that to him this indicated that students would look at the assessment of their own nutrition profile, but that he could see the potential for misinterpretation.

KINE 112 is not a required course in any capacity. Even for students in the Bachelor of Kinesiology program it is an elective, so there is no way that a student could be forced to complete assignments that make them uncomfortable, but while they may not find it necessary to drop the course, some still have concerns. “Even for me, as someone who was at the time eating pretty healthy and exercising moderately, it felt like a bit of an invasion. This is stuff you do with your personal trainer, not your university class.” said Shipley. 

Jenks points out that not every experience was the same, noting that feedback about the course often shows that students have a better understanding of balanced eating and overall health. On whether a change in the language on the syllabus—such clarification or a disclaimer—would be helpful in decreasing the instances of students needing to modify or drop the course, Jenks said that it was potentially worthwhile, but that the percentage of students who raise concerns is small, and that there is no evidence that a change in language would meaningfully change that. “We are always open to changing the language…but probably it hasn’t been done because of the administrative process,” he said. In order for changes to be made to syllabi, they first need to be approved at the department level, then at the faculty level and finally at a Senate level. For now, the best thing for students to do is read all guidelines carefully, and assess for themselves if the course is a good fit for them, and to consider holding off on buying the textbook until after class has begun.

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