The Role of the Campus Recreation Center in Creating a Community

Abstract

The Student Recreation Center provides a state-of-the-art facility and a comprehensive recreation program for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and spouses. It aids in the education and development of the whole person and serves as a place of employment for students. More than just a place to exercise, the recreation center also serves as a venue for education: users develop positive self-esteem, enhance their social relationships, and improve their interpersonal skills. The recreation center provides a unique site for programs and activities aimed at meeting the needs, interests, and expectations of a diverse community. Opportunities for interaction, collaboration, and unification are essential if campuses are to develop a sense of community. Reports from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Wingspread Group on Higher Education serve to challenge university administrators in their struggle to create a sense of community. In as much as campus recreation centers have the capacity to engage members of the campus community in exciting, creative, and unique experiences they can provide the means to attract diverse populations. Often open 16–18 hours each day, there is no other single facility on a college campus that can provide as many varied activities with such wide appeal. Conventional programs such as intramurals, sport clubs and aerobics programs serve individuals in a variety of sports and recreational activities from basketball to scuba diving. Wellness programs offer health and educational services and outdoors recreation programs provide opportunities to develop skills for life-long enjoyment. Student recreation centers can serve as sites for day camp programs for children. Community members at large receive passes at nominal fees when student enrollment declines during the summer months. Recreation centers provide opportunities for students to interact with one another, as well as other sectors of the community. Research shows that this aids in both recruitment and retention. University administrators must continue their efforts to foster student learning and personal development. Student recreation centers can contribute significantly to that end by providing the facilities, programs, services and personnel to help meet those challenges.