Purdue News
Purdue News
Purdue's Department of Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies provided expertise in setting up the facility for SIA employees, whom the company calls associates, and their families. The center at the Tippecanoe county plant will provide recreational activities and information on health and wellness.
Purdue has a $76,000 contract with SIA to fund the partnership. As part of the agreement, Purdue is consulting on equipment and programs and providing some student staffing. Purdue faculty also will be allowed to conduct research at the site.
"SIA sees this as a way to help improve the quality of life for its associates," said Thomas Templin, head of the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies. "In turn, Purdue gains internships, student co-ops, and access to other educational and research opportunities. We also will learn more about the corporate-fitness world."
The 27,000-square-foot facility is on 60 acres that include tennis courts, soccer fields, a jogging trail and a fishing pond. The SIA plant employs more than 2,900 associates and produces the Subaru Legacy, Isuzu Rodeo and the Honda Passport.
Julie Cole, specialist in associate relations at SIA, said partnering with Purdue has created a win-win situation. "We get to tap into Purdue expertise and at the same time, Purdue students can get a taste of corporate life in a hands-on work experience," she said.
Roger Seehafer, associate professor of health, kinesiology and leisure studies, said, "Our long-range goal is to develop a state-of-the art model for other corporate work sites to copy."
Seehafer said there are a lot of reports and anecdotal information about the benefits of offering health and fitness programs for employees. However, he said, few corporations have the finances to conduct research studies that meet the criteria for true scientific evaluation of their programs.
"Out of this collaboration we hope to produce evaluations that will provide corporations a higher degree of confidence in offering fitness and wellness programs to their employees," he said.
Templin said the center also will deal with matters such as stress management, smoking cessation, weight management and better nutrition. "We are suggesting programming to increase the frequency of employee exercise and recreational activities and help create habit-forming health behaviors," he said.
Sources: Thomas Templin (765) 494-3178
Julie Cole, (765) 449-6278
Roger Seehafer, (765) 494-3159; e-mail, marrog@vm.cc.purdue.edu
Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-9723; e-mail, beth_forbes@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
