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University Recreation Updates

UREC has been busy this semester creating safe facility spaces and programs for the Appalachian community. We had an unexpected start to the semester when indoor gyms and recreation centers remained closed in NC due to measures to prevent the spread of Covid. We have adjusted through the various phases of reopening to provide a much needed outlet for students to maintain their mental and physical well being.

Our new software program Fusion, accessible by your smartphone, allowed us to create a detailed reservation system for all our facilities and programs. This system allows students to register for the type of activity, program or space they choose, guarantees them a space to recreate and prevents people from congregating in our facilities while providing a real time and detailed method to contact trace if needed. The result has been an active student body participating in our programs and facilities. The numbers below reflect students, faculty, or staff members who have been engaged with UREC from Aug. 17 to Nov. 1, 2020.

We have had 2,507 people lap swim in the aquatic facility in the SRC so far this fall. We have had to suspend swim lessons and other related clinics but will resume those as soon as we can.

Intramural Sports, typically reliant on leagues of team sports like flag football, soccer, and basketball have had to get creative by offering individual competitions outdoors like punt pass kick and soccer shootouts. We are slowly moving indoors and will transition to include activities such as volleyball skills, three point contests, and table tennis.

Club Sports teams are allowed to meet as long as club team leadership provide a detailed Return to Play manual detailing how they can safely practice their sport. This process, guided by our professional staff, and based on state and national guidelines, has resulted in 1,105 student participant days engaged in safe, physically distanced practice activity for Club Sport team members.

Outdoor Program has made some adjustments with their operations and are doing trips and trip staff training within Watauga County. OP has conducted a total of 16 trips so far this semester serving 111 students. 241 students have utilized the Broadstone facility, and 99 students have participated in Team Building Courses at the Broadstone facility. Students continue to utilize the Bike App solar powered trailer on Rivers St. and 714 students have climbed on the wall in the SRC. 108 people have rented camping equipment so far this semester for their own outdoor adventures.

In the SRC, we have had 6,326 people utilize the weight room, including the outdoor weight room that was created at the beginning of the semester, and 3,608 people have used the cardio equipment. In the Quinn Center, 2,859 have utilized the weight room and 582 have used the cardio equipment.

In-person fitness classes have been creative and flexible this semester utilizing a number of different spaces including Sanford Mall, the Howard’s Knob outdoor patio, other outdoor spaces, and the SRC and Quinn Center. We have conducted 148 in-person fitness classes serving 717 students and have offered 138 virtual fitness classes serving 355 students.

Our professional and student staff have done an amazing job adapting to their new responsibilities during Covid. They have provided significant leadership to ensure safe facilities and programs to over 19,000 people in the Appalachian community this fall. UREC will continue to innovate and work hard to meet the critically important wellness needs of our students in these ever changing times. 

Nov 4, 20