Student Development and Enrollment Services offices are working together to expand recreation and wellness events and resources to the Regional Campuses. Student Government Association (SGA) in collaboration with Student Development and Enrollment Services’ Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC), Regional Campuses Student Services (RCSS) and the Office of Student Involvement are developing a continuum of new recreation and wellness programs and activities to support the success of Regional Campuses students. Each region through this collaborative effort was able to expand recreation and wellness events and resources.
The first priority was to get students involved and bring new life to the student lounge areas at the eastern region–UCF Daytona, southern region–UCF Cocoa and UCF Palm Bay, and western region–UCF South Lake campuses. The eastern and southern regional SGA student teams and advisory groups went into action to support the initiatives. Student feedback was gathered through questionnaires and student advisory groups. New foosball tables, pool tables, a ping pong table and game stations were high on the student priority list and were purchased. UCF Cocoa SGA initiated Game Day tournaments to showcase the new recreation equipment available in the student lounge.
Over the past year, cooperative agreements were established for regional campuses student access to area fitness centers to include the National Training Center (South Lake Campus), Daytona State College (UCF Daytona), YMCA (UCF Cocoa), and In-2-Fitness (UCF Palm Bay). Bowling Knights was implemented as a joint event for the UCF South Lake and Leesburg campuses. Many non-traditional students brought their families to enjoy the fun. RCSS Director Pamela Brady stated, “student feedback was positive and the students have identified this as an event they really want to do again.” UCF Cocoa and Palm Bay also have Bowling Knights. The word got out on how much fun the students were having that participation has increased from 1-2 lanes to filling every lane at the last Bowling Knight.
RWC facilitated Wellness Fairs on the Orlando and regional campuses. There were 800 students who attended the event on the Orlando campus. The Wellness Fair was well received at the regional campuses with a total of 874 students. Victim Services, Dispute Resolution Services, Health Services, Counseling Center, and AlcoholEdu joined the SDES horizontal team and provided resource information to students. The events on each regional campus included massage therapy, resource tables, community vendors, blood pressure checks, and dance and exercise demonstrations. UCF Cocoa student Deanna Blake stated, “the vendors gave very good information especially positive ways to improve your health” and UCF Cocoa student Rebecca Schilling “felt the Wellness Fair provided fun ways to learn about being healthy.”
UCF Palm Bay collaborated Brevard Community College (BCC) to co-sponsor with SGA Fall and Spring UCF/BCC Health and Wellness Fairs. UCF Palm Bay SGA student representative Laura Raymond stated, “The collaboration enabled us to expand vendor participation that we would not have had without them.” The Spring fair included a blood drive, bone marrow screening and a fundraiser for Relay for Life. UCF student Steve Lloyd commented that the UCF Palm Bay Wellness Fair was “. . .filled with fun and games for a good cause in an exciting atmosphere.”
Next on the horizon for the team, is working together to create a student-driven plan for future recreation and wellness activities.