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Department: Health, Physical Education and Dance

Department of Health, Physical Education, and Dance

Robert F. Kennedy Hall (Gymnasium), G-216
Phone: 718-631-6322
Fax: 718-631-6333
Email: HPED@qcc.cuny.edu
Health, Physical Education, and Dance Department Website

Faculty and Staff

  • Dr. Andrea Salis, Chairperson

  • Professors: Lana Zinger

  • Associate Professors: Rezan Akpinar, Daniel Armstrong, Emily Berry, Jason Demas, Aviva Geismar, Rosemary Iconis, Young K. Kim, Isabella Lizzul, Anthony Monahan, Andrea Salis,

  • Assistant Professors: Parisa Assassi, Nicole McClam

  • Lecturers: Gene Desepoli, Edward Diller, Sue Garcia, Peter Marchitello, Jung Gu Moon

  • Adjunct Faculty: approximately 40 each year

  • Professors Emeriti: Frances D’Amico, Norma M. Dayton, Elyn Feldman, Ronald Fusco, Linda Joseph, Alfred F. Kahn, Aaron Krac, Lawrence Lembo, Joseph D. Santora, Sandy Joel Siff, Paul S. Weiss

  • Office Personnel:

    • Janis Gruber, CUNY Administrative Assistant

    • Cathy Murawski, College Assistant 

For information about the academic programs in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Dance, contact the Department or the following advisers directly:

  • Dance: Professor Emily Berry

  • Massage Therapy: Dr. Isabella Lizzul

  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Dr. Daniel Armstrong

  • Exercise Science: Dr. Anthony Monahan

  • Nutrition: Dr. Alicia Sinclair and Dr. Lana Zinger

  • Personal Training: Prof. Jason Demas

  • Physical Education: Prof. Sue Garcia

  • Public Health: Dr. Andrea Salis

Programs of Study

Accreditation

Queensborough Community College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Transfer Options

Within the CUNY System, many colleges offer bachelor’s degree programs in a range of related majors. (See CUNY's Academic Programs website for more information.) Additionally, Queensborough Community College currently has agreements with the following colleges and programs that allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree in an efficient manner after transfer.

Hunter College

  • A.S. in Public Health to B.S. in Community Health

York College

  • A.S. in Movement Science to B.S. in Movement Science

  • A.S. in Public Health to B.S. in Public Health

  •  A.S. in Public Health to B.S. in Community Health Education

Those interested in a transfer agreement should contact the Transfer Resource Center or the Department for more information.

Massage Therapy Advisory Board

  • Dr. Isabella Lizzul, Chair

  • Mr. Walter Blick

  • Ms. Barbara Joel

  • Ms. Diedre McDonough

  • Ms. Nancy Mishanie

  • Prof. Kiera Nagel

  • Ms. Jean Selmo

Departmental Awards For Student Excellence

  • Outstanding Athlete Awards (Male and Female) The Steve Weingard Scholar-Athlete Award (Male) 

  • The Joanne Blumin Scholar-Athlete Award (Female) 

  • The Director’s Award for Dance

  • The Frank Egan Service/Leadership/Participation Awards 

  • The Evelyn Karlin Award

  • The Mary Jean Erario Scholarship 

  • The Robert F. Kennedy Award 

  • The Muriel Manings Award

  • The Scholar-Athlete Award

The Department of Health, Physical Education, and Dance is Organized to:

  • Provide academic programs to prepare students for further studies and careers in health, nutrition, physical education, exercise science, dance and massage therapy

  • Provide learning experiences designed to enable students to develop analytical reasoning skills in order to make informed health decisions

  • Provide support for continuing education courses for all ages, from youth to seniors that serve the health, social and recreational needs of community

  • Provide academic and community programs in health, physical education, dance and massage therapy that advocates and promotes physically active and healthy lifestyles

  • Provide a program of instruction in the scientific bases of cardiovascular fitness, muscular power, strength and endurance, stress management, weight management, mobility, agility, and rhythm, that will serve as a foundation for lifetime optimum fitness and wellness

  • Provide a broad program of instruction in physical activities, including aquatics, dance, and team and lifetime sports activities

  • Provide a program of clubs, recreation, intramurals, and intercollegiates which offer a level of skill and activity for every student and faculty member at the College.

Facilities

Indoor instructional facilities of the Department include a pool, three gymnasiums, a weight training room, fitness center, two dance studios, and a massage therapy clinic. Outdoor facilities include six tennis courts, two paddleball/handball courts, two volleyball courts, a 440-yard track, and a soccer/football field.

Physical Education and/or Dance

Please Note: Students will not receive credit for a beginning level physical education course after they have taken and passed either an intermediate or advanced class in the same sport or physical activity. This ruling may be waived only by special permission of the Department.

Students may take additional courses in later semesters for elective credit.

Health Education

Students in many Associate degree programs are required to take HE-101 (Personal Health and Wellness) or HE-102 (Health, Behavior and Society). All students, however, may take these courses as elective credit. 

Withdrawal From a Course

Students wishing to withdraw from a physical education, dance, or health education course must file the appropriate form in the Office of the Registrar and have it officially approved in order to avoid receiving a grade of WU or INC. Uniform and equipment records must be cleared by returning issued items prior to approval of withdrawal requests.

Medical Regulations

  • To withdraw from a course for any medical reason, the student must make an official request which must be accompanied by a physician’s report. These must be submitted to the Health Services office for approval.

  • Students who are medically restricted must be assigned to modified activity by the Health Services Office. Graduation requirements in physical education and/or dance for such students must be satisfied by substituting activities approved by the student’s primary medical provider.

  •  A request for a Waiver for Medical Reasons of any required course in physical education and/or dance must be approved by the student’s primary medical provider upon admission to the College, or upon the first appearance of any new medical problem.

  • Program Limitations or Waivers. Waivers requested for medical reasons, consideration of age, or any other extenuating circumstances, require the written approval of the chairperson of the Department

    • Students medically restricted by the student’s primary medical provider will be assigned to appropriate courses.

    • Students over 35 years of age may request an interview with the chairperson of the Department to discuss a special program to fulfill their requirements.

Veterans

Some health and physical education requirements are waived for veterans; they may, however, choose to take those courses in health education, physical education, or dance for elective credit. Veterans wishing to receive a waiver of health and physical education requirements must submit a copy of their Joint Service Transcript to the Queensborough Community College Admissions Office.

Uniform Regulations

All students participating in physical education and/or dance classes, intramurals, or recreation activities in Robert F. Kennedy Hall are required to wear appropriate athletic attire and footwear. Students who fail to return all uniform items will receive a Bursar’s hold on their account.

Please Note: The Registrar will not issue a transcript until such arrears are cleared.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Director: Jon Hochberg

Queensborough Community College offers intercollegiate athletics in the following sports:

  • Fall: Men’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country

  • Winter: Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Swimming, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field

  • Spring: Men’s Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field.

Eligibility Requirements for Intercollegiate Team Participation

In order to be eligible to participate on an intercollegiate team, a student must be full-time, and carrying 12 or more credits or credit hours. In addition, students who attended full-time the previous semester must have completed at least 12 credits with a 2.0 grade-point average. The student must also have health insurance information on file in the College’s Health Services Office and medical clearance from a MD is also necessary.

Waivers of this regulation may be granted only in exceptional cases and after consideration of a written appeal by the student. Students should consult with the Director of Athletics.

Note: To remain in good academic standing at Queensborough, students must maintain the academic standing requirements of the College.

Equity In Athletics Disclosure Act

Under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (1994), students may request information on participation rates, financial support, and other information pertaining to men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic programs. Information is available from the Athletics Office (RFK, Room 206), and from the Office of Student Affairs (Library Building, Room 412).

Athletic Program Participation Notice

The College files an annual report with the U.S. Secretary of Education on intercollegiate athletics which includes information on the participation of males and females on its teams, and the expenditures and revenues of those teams. Copies of the annual report on intercollegiate athletics are available at the reference desk of the library and the college website.

Recreation

A comprehensive recreation program is sponsored by the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Dance which complements the courses in physical education and allows students, faculty, staff, members of the QCC Alumni Association, and continuing education students to use the recreational facilities. Weather permitting, both indoor and outdoor recreation programs are conducted daily (including evenings and weekends) in the gymnasiums, fitness center, weight training room, Olympic size pool, and on the tennis and handball/paddleball courts. A number of club activities are available, including badminton, table tennis and volleyball. Consult the Recreation Schedule published every semester and summer session for activity dates and times. The schedule is available on the Queensborough Website and in the Health, Physical Education, and Dance Department Office (RFK Hall, Room 216).

Special Notes:

  • Students are responsible for all items issued to them.

  • They will be charged for items not returned or returned in poor condition.

  • Use of locker room storage baskets or lockers is optional, not mandatory.

  • Students are warned to protect College and personal belongings against possible theft.

  • Fees: Students registering in Swimming, CPR, First Aid, or EMT will pay a $5.00 special services charge for each course. Certain health and physical education courses carry additional charges as indicated in the course descriptions and the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.