UREC Activities Aid Retention, GPA

UofA research shows recreation usage leads to a higher freshman retention rate and GPA among all students. Some students report seeing improvement in academic performance and stress relief.

UA students who took part in University Recreation programs showed increases in retention and academic success, according to a study of the 2017-2018 freshman class.

UREC freshman participants reported a 9.2 percent higher return rate for their sophomore year than students who didn’t, according to the center’s study. Resources are included as part of UA tuition. UREC participants also performed better in the classroom. Users achieved an 11 percent increase in GPA over those who didn’t use it at all.

Lindsay Smith, the assistant director of Marketing and Public Relations, thinks it is important for freshmen to know what they have available, she said. By bettering their physical health, students also learn time management skills that can help their academic life, she said.

“We know that 85 percent of freshmen used our resources at least once. The more they continue to use them, the more likely they are to come back to school next year,” Smith said.

University Recreation tracked ID card swipes to count how often students attended a program. Those who spent more time using recreation had a higher cumulative GPA.

Smith focused mainly on freshmen for recruitment to UREC programs. With new students experiencing the stress of academics, unsupervised social life and newly discovered independence, the recreation staff wants to provide a comfortable environment for freshmen, Smith said.

During the first week on campus, University Recreation played host to an open house that showed activities available for students. Half of them were freshmen.

“You’re experiencing a completely new thing,” she said of first-year students. “We want to help you learn to balance school, time, social life and being away from home for the first time.”

Smith attended every new-student orientation session over the summer to give information about University Recreation. Smith also distributed 5,000 brochures to incoming freshmen.

Freshman Reilly Nichols already has participated in University Recreation every day in this new school year.

“Recreation was a big part of why I chose to attend the University of Arkansas,” he said. “I toured the Health, Physical Education and Recreation building during orientation, and I had read about it before.”

Nichols lived an active life during high school and plans to continue to lift weights and keep healthy habits while at the U of A, he said.

He has seen an improvement in his academic performance, stress relief and anxiety control Nichols said. He plans to participate more throughout the year and will be getting more involved during his remaining time on campus.

By creating healthful habits instead of playing video games in his room, Nichols said he sees an overall self-improvement.