he University introduced a fly-fishing course, taken for P.E. credit, after instructors Terry Dash and Tommy Holden came up with the idea.
Dash teaches a variety of outdoor classes, such as rock climbing, backpacking, sea kayaking, mountain biking and a challenge course, among others.
According to Dash, he thought of the idea after seeing fly-fishing experience a surge in popularity.
“We decided to start the class because fly-fishing has become one of the more popular outdoor activities,” Dash said. “Many students have shown an interest.”
Andrew Slatter, a junior in business management, agreed with Dash.
“I think it will be a popular class,” Slatter said. “It will draw interest from N.C. State students.”
Dash said he goes fishing fairly often and people often come up to him and ask him questions about it.
“I live near Lake Johnson, so I go fishing there,” Dash said.
Catherine Freeman, Academic Standards coordinator, said for the proposal to become a class, it had to go through a thorough process before the University passed it.
“Courses are developed at the departmental level using a course action form,” she said. “The course then moves through the college approval process and with the college dean’s signature, is sent to the office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs.”
After that, the coordinator reviews it and places it on the agenda with the courses committee. The dean of Undergraduate Programs then has to sign it, according to Freeman.
Following this procedure, the course is then added to the course offerings by the Registration and Records office.
The class will likely be offered in spring 2008 because by the time the proposal was passed, it was too late for the class to be developed for the fall, Dash said.
According to Dash, the class will allow for open enrollment with no prerequisites or departmental approval required, and it will fill the 200-level physical education requirement for all students.
There is also a proposed field trip for students in the class, he said.
“Most likely, we will be taking a day trip to a lake,” Dash said.
According to Dash, many of the outdoor classes fill up quickly. He believes this will likely happen with this new class.
“I teach mountaineering in the spring,” he said. “It fills up quickly because students find out about it by word-of-mouth.”
He said that most of the outdoor classes have a fee, and fly-fishing will be no exception.
One to two sections of the class should be offered each semester starting next spring, Dash said.