Student transforms graduation requirement into a 17-course adventure
Healthy choices encouraged through education, activity, and options
Carlos Ortiz/RIT
Andrew Bush helps boil sap in his Maple Syrup and the Environment Wellness course at the Lobozzo Alumni House. It’s the 17th Wellness class he’s enrolled in during his five years at RIT, far exceeding the two classes required for undergraduates.
Like all RIT undergraduates, Andrew Bush has to complete two Wellness education courses as a requirement for graduation.
Five years later, he’s about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, a master’s in cybersecurity, and he’s soared past his two required Wellness courses. He’s currently on his 17th, Maple Syrup and the Environment. Taught by Enid Cardinal, senior advisor to the president for strategic planning and sustainability, and Tom Connelly, assistant director for Campus Sustainability, the class teaches how to tap maple trees on campus and turn the sap into syrup.
“The Wellness courses have been one of the best things to do to help me branch out and try new things,” said Bush, of Camillus, N.Y. “I got to take advantage of the programs and do tons of things I wouldn’t have otherwise done.”
His first two courses involved leadership and fitness training with ROTC, which he belonged to. But in his third year, he opted to take more classes, such as weight training and ballroom dancing as a way to keep fit. Last semester, he took five Wellness courses, including horseback riding, bouldering, Adirondack hiking, and canoe camping.
Many of the Wellness courses he has taken complemented his activities in the RIT Outing Club, which often took him to the Adirondacks for camping and backpacking. The courses helped him organize adventures for himself and make new friends with similar interests, including a recent backpacking trip to Costa Rica.
“The courses also gave me more confidence to try new things when I’m in new situations,” Bush said. “I hope to continue to apply some of the skills and knowledge I’ve learned to teach others environmental topics and greater appreciation for the environment.”
Established in the 1970s, RIT’s Wellness Education Program serves as a commitment to student well‑being, personal development, and lifelong healthy habits. Nearly 200 courses taught by more than 60 adjunct professors are offered involving seminars, dance, fitness, health and safety, martial arts, recreation, and outdoor education. Some of the personal trainers are also RIT students.
RIT subsidizes the first two wellness courses for every student, covering up to $105 per course. Courses are added as students’ interests expand. Recent additions include Olympic Weightlifting, Wilderness Survival, Motivation and Mindset, Advanced Pickleball, Intermediate Bike Maintenance, and From Couch to 5K.
Michelle Schrouder, director of Recreation and Wellness Programs, said surveys show 98 percent of students reported a positive overall experience from their Wellness courses, with 77 percent saying they could apply wellness concepts in their daily lives. And many take more than their required two as they learn the topic or instructor resonates with them.
“RIT’s wellness education courses give students the opportunity to step beyond the traditional classroom and focus on their overall well-being,” she said. “Through these courses, they build meaningful connections with adjunct instructors who bring both expertise and a strong commitment to student development.”
Schrouder said the program is supported by Michelle Wilcox, assistant director for fitness; Chelsea Ammerman, assistant director of outdoor education, and Randy Lewis, assistant director of aquatics health and safety, who guide curriculum development, instructor support, and the continued evolution of wellness offerings across campus.
