The president of Lees-McRae College sees the future and it is bicycles.
The small college in the hills of Banner Elk, North Carolina, will become the first in the nation to offer a minor in Bicycle Studies when the program is launched this spring.
Already an athletic cycling powerhouse with 10 national championships since 2003, now bicycling will roll into the academic realm with course offerings for careers on and off the bike.
Dynamic world
President Barry M. Buxton, a bicyclist himself, is quoted in a press release:
“We want to give our cyclists another avenue in which to explore the ever-growing and dynamic world of cycling. Our students are talented riders and mechanics, and we want to provide them with opportunities outside of team racing.
“With the College’s new cycling minor in place, our graduates can be extremely competitive in the cycling industry as coaches, managers, officials, planners, team directors, designers, promoters, trainers, etc.”
Bicycle business
The goal is to get 150 cycling enthusiasts enrolled in the program. The entire college currently some 900 students.
Students seeking a minor in Bicycle Studies will learn bicycle history and the principles of bicycling, as well as nutrition and academic performance. They'll how to integrate cycling into the environment, city planning and tourism and to develop a bicycle-related businesses.
Graduates would be qualified for positions in team management, bicycle design, coaching, education, urban design, training, retail, planning, event marketing and more.
Before graduating, they must compete an internship in some aspect of bicycling.
This program sounds like a great opportunity for students who want to work at what they love.
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