Finding ways to keep older adults physically active is the goal of a new research project out of the University of Windsor.

Kinesiology professor Sean Horton is leading a team that will survey adults 65 and older during and after they take part in a 10-week fitness program specifically designed for their age demographic. Participants will be asked about their preferences when it comes to fitness programs and about any barriers they’ve faced during the pandemic.

“Motivating older adults to be physically active is a challenge that Canadian community organizations and service providers face daily,” said Dr. Horton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded this challenge.”

Studies show that the older we get, the less we exercise, Horton said. But exercise is important to overall health and independence.

“We need to understand what makes participation in exercise programs meaningful for older adults so that providers can better address the needs of this population,” Horton said.

The study will include residents of Chartwell Retirement Residences, Amica Senior Lifestyles, and Sharon Village Care Homes and clients of Life After 50, the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre’s Chronic Disease Management Program, and the Oshawa Senior Community Centres.

Horton, who is working with UWindsor professors Thecla Damianakis and Patti Weir, and researchers from York University and Ontario Tech University, has partnered with UWindsor alumna Emily Johnson (BHK 2014), founder of StrongerU Senior Fitness.

While other partners will continue to deliver their existing fitness programs, staff from Chartwell, Amica, Sharon Village, and Life After 50 will receive training in one of Johnson’s StrongerU fitness programs. Staff at the seniors’ homes and community group will become certified to teach the program and get access to all the course materials for free.

The StrongerU regimen will consist of two sessions a week for 10 weeks. The program is set to music and focuses on building strength, with each session including a cardio warmup, exercises for all the major muscle groups, and a cool down with stretches.

“There’s the social aspect,” said Johnson. “We train the instructors to be more like party hosts.”

Participants don’t have to take part in the study to take advantage of the sessions, but Johnson predicts the study will be an incentive for some.

“There are a lot of intellectual older adults who will participate just to take part in the study.”

Johnson, who worked as a recreation manager for seniors’ homes before starting her own company, said she looks forward to getting the kind of standardized feedback the study will provide.

In all, the researchers hope to survey 100 seniors, approximately 25 per cent of the participants.

If participants stop taking part in the sessions, the researchers will want to know why.

The findings will help better tailor exercise programs for older adults, revealing the strengths and limits of various delivery methods. Some of the sessions may take place virtually and some in-person.

The $220,000 study is being funded with a $198,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada, with the rest of the money coming from internal university grants. The study will take three years and will provide research opportunities for graduate students.

—Sarah Sacheli

While extensive renovations take place at the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building, the law school community will return in temporary “law clusters” across campus.

During regular business hours, the law deans and support staff will be accessible on the second floor of Lambton Tower, while the faculty’s student lounge, academic co-ordinators, admissions, Dual JD Program, student and career services offices will be situated on the lower level of the Student Centre. In Vanier Hall’s Winclare Room — formerly an expansive event space — visitors will now find law’s general office, faculty members, and support staff, along with information technology, special events, communications, program co-ordinators, alumni and fund development staff.

Across the courtyard in Laurier Hall is Windsor Law’s clinical therapist and assistant dean of finance and administration, located on the second floor in the International Student Centre. And if law students are seeking a quiet study space or library services, they can head over to the Leddy Library West Building to access private study spaces, reference librarians, circulation staff, and technical services.

Finally, the bulk of law classes will take place in the Toldo Health Education Centre, the Odette Building, and the Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation (CEI). The law school’s clinical and experiential learning program staff is located at the University of Windsor’s downtown campus in Windsor Hall to remain close to the community clinics including, Community Legal Aid and Legal Assistance of Windsor:

• Dean’s suite, special projects, graduate studies: Lambton Tower, second and lower levels
• Student lounge; student services; career services; academic co-ordinators; admissions, recruitment, and external relations; Dual JD program: CAW Student Centre, lower level
• General office, information technology services, special events, communications and marketing, alumni and fund development, program co-ordinators, faculty secretaries, faculty members, National Self-Represented Litigants Project, Yearbook of Access to Justice: Vanier Hall, Winclare Room
• Clinical therapist, finance and administration: Laurier Hall, second floor (International Student Centre)
• Law Library, reference librarians, access services and circulation staff, technical services: Leddy Library, West Building
• Clinical and experiential learning: Windsor Hall (downtown)
• Class locations: Toldo Health Education Centre, Odette Building, Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation (CEI)

For more information about the Transforming Windsor Law project, or to download a copy of the campus map outlining temporary law clusters across campus, visit the project website.

A team of business students took top honours in the Battle of the Faculties competition, announced Wednesday at the annual Welcoming Celebration.

The Safari Shareholders squad received the coveted Lancer Shield, a team meal, and the opportunity to participate in the Lancer Leadership: Great Escape virtual escape room offered by the Leadership Hub from the Student Success and Leadership Centre.

Social work major Keeley Thombs won the $4,000 tuition prize sponsored by the Alumni Association.

The Best Faculty Leader prize, a $250 Amazon gift card, went to Carrie Pluck from the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Various other prizes were also awarded at this event, including some sponsored by the University of Windsor Students’ Association and the Organization of Part-time University Students.

Food Services is offering its lunch patrons something different today: corn dogs. The battered and deep-fried frankfurters will celebrate the Sept. 10 National Hot Dog Day, says executive chef Paolo Vasapolli.

“It’s an initiative of Canada Takeout, which has been promoting restaurants during the pandemic,” he explains. “We figured we would mix it up a bit by making corn dogs instead of regular franks.”

The wieners are from Windsor-based Brenner Packers. Vasapolli adds a special condiment of beer mustard will accompany each hot dog on a stick.

At a cost of $6.49 with a side of French fries, they will be available in the Bru outlet in Alumni Hall and the U Club in Vanier Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Campus partners are working to maintain a robust set of Knowledge Base Articles (KBAs).

The team will continue to compile a weekly digest of the most-referenced KBAs to streamline student-focused questions to ask.UWindsor to support consistent communication with current and future students.

These are this week’s top-five referenced KBAs:

• How do I receive an enrolment verification letter? (202)
• How do I extend my UWin Account? (314)
• I have accepted an offer of admission to UWindsor. How do I set up my multi-factor authentication options? (536)
• How do I select an alternate grading option? (741)
• How can I receive a graduation eligibility letter? 615)

You can submit common questions or make suggestions to the KBA team at askkba@uwindsor.ca.