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The benefits, barriers, and methodologies of the enhancement of undergraduate research have been widely studied in higher education. However, there are limited studies on undergraduate research in the field of kinesiology. The previous studies centered around student or faculty evaluation of existing curricular or extracurricular undergraduate research programs. The extent to which these studies may inform a kinesiology department that does not have an established undergraduate research curriculum or program is questionable. This article provides a general overview of existing undergraduate research enhancement programs in other universities, presents a recent research study on perceptions of undergraduate research in exercise and sports science students at Texas State University, and offers future recommendations on enhancing undergraduate research in kinesiology.

Over the past decade, enrollment in the exercise science graduate program at Texas State University has shown consistent growth. However, the program’s level of diversity has been low, as indicated by the college’s equity audit report. In response to the imperative of social justice and equity in the field of kinesiology, this article presents one recruitment strategy and two retention strategies aimed at fostering inclusivity in the graduate program. The recruitment strategy describes the steps to establish a partnership with Huston-Tillotson University (a historically Black university). This partnership serves as a means to create a pathway for underrepresented students to pursue graduate studies in exercise science. The two retention strategies explain how a peer-mentoring program and alumni connect can be used to foster an inclusive experience for current students and recent graduates and to promote student success and retention. The benefits of each strategy and suggestions to implement the strategies are also described.

Peer mentoring is a learning process wherein a more experienced student provides advice and support to a less experienced student during their academic career. At the graduate level, peer mentoring has been shown to increase social support, career readiness, retention, and graduation rates among first-year students. In spring 2021, the Exercise Science graduate program at Texas State University initiated a peer mentoring program. The participants reported that they felt more integrated in the graduate program. Meeting and socializing with mentor/mentee have enhanced their sense of belonging and relatedness, especially during COVID, when students felt more isolated. The professional relationship made them more prone to return and strive for academic success. This article describes a peer mentoring program that has been successfully implemented in a kinesiology graduate program and makes recommendations for universities to study the impact of peer mentoring on marginalized student well-being, retention, career readiness, and academic success in future research.

Background: The study aimed to examine predicted differences of 2 different behavior change patterns on physical fitness (PF). Methods: Participants were 241 students (51% girls) aged 11–14 years from China. Light physical activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB) were objectively measured. Sleep was obtained by subtracting from awake time. According to Chinese National student PF standards, 5 components of PF, including body mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, muscular explosive power and strength endurance, and flexibility, were assessed. The effects of different time reallocations between 24-hour movement behaviors on PF were estimated based on adjusted compositional multiple linear regression models with isometric log ratios. Results: Compared with MVPA substituting for the remaining behaviors, MVPA replacing SB or light physical activity produced more favorable changes on the comprehensive PF score, cardiorespiratory fitness, explosive power, and speed. MVPA replacing 30 minutes of SB was associated with favorable changes in PF (+1.9 [0.53, 3.18] points), 50-m run (−0.17 [−0.31, −0.04] s), long-distance running (−5.54 s [for girls]/7.25 s [for boys]), and long jump (+0.05 [0.01, 0.09] m). When sleep replaced SB, PF improved. Conclusions: MVPA substituting SB or light physical activity is a strategy with a greater improvement in PF.

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in interest in master’s education in the United States. However, not much attention has been paid to recruiting and retaining master’s students in the field of kinesiology. This article describes recruitment and retention strategies that have been successfully implemented in a kinesiology graduate program at a Hispanic-serving institution. Recruiting from undergraduate programs, removing use of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in graduate admissions, awarding graduate teaching assistantships, creating new programs that flow with the evolving workforce, actively promoting the program at other universities and conferences, and building partnership with other universities are described for recruiting quality master’s students. Establishing a peer/faculty mentorship program and building a strong student network/organization have been shown to have a positive impact on retention. Readers may pick and choose the strategies that work best with the student population, faculty, and other resources available in the program.

The scarcity of tenure-track lines in most kinesiology departments supports the need for the implementation of faculty mentoring programs. This article summarizes key elements of mentoring programs for tenure-track kinesiology faculty at 3 kinds of state universities. Mentoring at a bachelor’s college or university might emphasize support to enhance a new faculty member’s teaching effectiveness and student advising strategies and assist new faculty with a positive integration into the campus community. A comprehensive university mentoring approach may place equal emphasis on both formal (e.g., orientation and mentoring committee) and informal (e.g., collegial and self-selected mentoring) interactions. Helping new faculty members understand their role as an important part of the departmental team and organizational mission is a consistent theme. Mentoring at a research-intensive university might emphasize clarifying scholarship, tenure, and promotion expectations relative to support; guidance in portfolio presentation; retention, tenure, and promotion evaluation; and strong communication that promotes mutual professional development and improves or sustains faculty retention.

The rapidly increasing enrollment in kinesiology programs recognizes the important role of our academic discipline in promoting future professionals within the physical activity, fitness, wellness, education, sport, and allied health domains. Unprecedented growth in student interest in kinesiology offers faculty and administrators in higher education both exciting opportunities and difficult challenges. One significant concern facing kinesiology faculty is maintaining high-quality instruction within growing class sizes. Incorporating service-learning components within kinesiology curricula provides numerous benefits to students, faculty, institutions of higher education, and members of our local and global communities. In addition, service-learning has the potential to initiate innovative and entrepreneurial learning experiences and funding opportunities for students and faculty.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and its associated lower urinary tract symptoms seriously affect both the physical and mental health of older men. In order to determine the efficiency of Chinese Qigong Yi Jin Jing on prostate health in older individuals, thirty participants were randomized into either an Yi Jin Jing group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). After the 6-month intervention, the Yi Jin Jing group showed a significant decrease in international prostate symptom score and a significant increase in maximal urinary flow rate (compared with the control group p = .005, p = .001, respectively). Also, testosterone level increased and estrogen/testosterone ratio decreased in the Yi Jin Jing group (compared with the baseline p = .004, p = .002, respectively); estrogen level and estrogen/testosterone ratio were lower in the Yi Jin Jing group (compared with the control group p = .029, p = .012, respectively). The results showed that Yi Jin Jing is a promising way to reduce the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia-lower urinary tract symptoms in older men.

Purpose: The pedal-based power meter has its advantages, so it has become a popular monitoring tool in cycling. This study aimed to examine the validity of the Favero Assioma Duo power pedal system (FAD) in comparison with the SRM, which is considered the gold standard under maximal-effort cycling conditions, and a widely used cycling test, the 20-minute Functional Threshold Test. Methods: Fourteen male adolescent cyclists completed a series of cycling intervals including 5, 15, 30, 60, 240, 600, and 1200 seconds (20-min Functional Threshold Test) with their maximal-effort performance on 2 separate days. Power output data were collected from the FAD and the SRM for analysis. Results: Extremely strong correlations and excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were found between the power output values registered with the FAD and the SRM overall (r > .999, ICC = .996) and each power test (r > .98, ICC > .91). A low bias was found in power tests of longer durations (−3.2% at 240-s test, −3.3% at 600-s test, and −3.1% at 20-min Functional Threshold Test), while the bias augmented in shorter intervals (−2.7% at 5-s test, −3.6% at 15-s test, and −2.6% at 30-s test and −3.3% at 60-s test). A regression equation was proposed as y = −2.943 + 0.976x to diminish the bias (−0.2 W) with increased r value (>.98) and ICC (>.98). Conclusion: The FAD appears to be a valid tool for the measures of maximal-effort performance. The recorded power value reflects the true value with proposed regression equation.