2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Importance of Recreation Facilities
Newly enrolled students were asked about the importance of recreation facilities and programs
in their college decision. Over 46% of first-year students indicated that recreational facilities
were very or moderately important in their college decision.
Importance of Recreation Facilities in College Decision
Percentage of First Year Students
40%
34%
33%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
19%
14%
10%
5%
0%
Very important
Moderately
important
Slightly important
Not at all important
Continuing students were asked about the importance of recreation facilities and programs in
their decision to stay enrolled at their college. Over 45% of juniors and seniors indicated that
recreational facilities were very or moderately important in their decision to stay enrolled at
their colleges.
Importance of Recreation Facilities in Decision to Stay Enrolled
Percentage of Juniors and Seniors
35%
30%
28%
30%
24%
25%
20%
18%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Very important
Moderately
important
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Slightly important Not at all important
2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Participation in Recreation Activities
Three out of four students indicated that they participated in some form of on-campus
recreation. When compared to students at larger institutions, students enrolled at smaller
institutions (enrollments with fewer than 5000 students) participated more frequently in oncampus recreation.
o
o
Colleges with fewer than 5000 students = 87% of students participate in on-campus
recreation
Colleges with more than 5000 students = 71% of students participate in on-campus
recreation
Students on smaller campuses were more likely to participate in on-campus recreation, but
larger campuses have more recreational opportunities available to students.
The activities that students are most likely to participate in are: cardiovascular training (61% of
students that engage in some type of on-campus recreation do this activity once a week or
more), weight training (49%), and open recreation (24%).
Not surprisingly, students who reside on campus are more likely to participate in on-campus
recreation. Over 85% of on-campus students reported participating in some form of campus
recreation versus only 62% of students who live off campus.
With the exception of cardiovascular training and instructor-led group fitness, a higher
percentage of male students participated in on-campus recreation activities in comparison to
their female peers.
First-year students are more likely to participate in on-campus recreational activities suggesting
that campuses appear to be engaging students early on in their academic careers. As graduation
approaches, seniors may have competing demands that result in less participation.
Recreational Program
Aquatics/Pool
Cardiovascular Training
Instructor-led Group Fitness
Intramural Sports
Open Recreation
Outdoor Adventure
Personal Training
Racquet Sports
Sport Clubs
Weight Training
Percentage of FEMALE oncampus recreation participants
who engage in this activity once
a week or more
10
65
24
13
14
8
9
7
11
41
Percentage of MALE on-campus
recreation participants who
engage in this activity once a
week or more
14
58
9
30
39
11
16
17
19
62
Percentages in this table are limited to those students that do participate in some form of on-campus recreation.
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2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Student Characteristics
In addition to part-time students and those who live off-campus, students with the following
characteristics were less likely to participate frequently in campus recreation activities and programs:
Women
Seniors
Students with higher self-reported GPAs
Students who spend more hours per week studying
Students who spend more hours per week working
Non-first generation college students
Students who are not involved in at least one club or organization
Transfer students
Campus Size
The fact that larger campuses have more on-campus recreational opportunities for students is
reflected in student responses to many of the questions. For example, students at campuses
with larger enrollments (more than 5000 students), versus those at smaller campuses, were
more likely to agree that campus recreation offers something for everyone.
Percentage of students in agreement1 with the following statements:
Smaller colleges: On-campus recreation offers something for everyone.
Larger colleges: On-campus recreation offers something for everyone.
66%
78%
Smaller colleges: My recreational needs are met by on-campus recreation.
Larger colleges: My recreational needs are met by on-campus recreation.
65%
74%
Campus Recreation Student Employees
Over 3% of the respondents indicated that they were currently employed by the on-campus
recreation department.
Not surprisingly, those employed by the on-campus recreation department, were more likely to
participate in activities, programs, and services than those who were not employed in the
department. Student employees were also more satisfied with recreational offerings than those
not employed in the department.
When compared to non-employees, student employees more strongly agreed that their
participation in recreational activities had provided them with skills and abilities that they would
use after college.
1
Agreement items were asked on a 1-5 scale with 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. Percentage in agreement
throughout this report is the combined percentage of those respondents that strongly agreed or somewhat agreed.
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2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Barriers to Participation
Students were asked if they faced any barriers or challenges to participating in on-campus
recreation. While a lack of time is the most common reason, high percentages of students also
reported that facilities are too crowded, that they were not aware of offerings, and that parking
was a problem.
Factors that impede use of on-campus recreation (students could check all that applied)
No time
Facilities are too crowded
Was not aware of offerings
Parking was a problem
Programs not offered at convenient times
Lack of privacy
I use facilities off campus
Do not know how to use the equipment
Price/not affordable
Do not like to exercise
Injury or disability
Facilities are too spread out around campus
Facilities are too outdated
None of the above
Facilities do not have the right equipment
Lack of quality facilities
Child care was not available
51%
36%
25%
23%
22%
15%
12%
11%
11%
10%
8%
8%
8%
8%
7%
7%
4%
As might be expected, students who live off campus were more likely than those who live on
campus to indicate that parking was a problem and that they use facilities off campus.
Only 59% of students who use on-campus recreation facilities strongly or somewhat agreed that
fitness equipment is available when they wanted to use it. One out of four students strongly or
somewhat disagreed.
Fitness equipment is available when I want to use it.
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
37%
22%
15%
19%
7%
Strongly
agree
Somewhat
agree
Page 4
Neutral
Somewhat
disagree
Strongly
disagree
2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Expanding Offerings
Students were asked what would be important to them if they were improving/expanding recreational
facilities. The most highly endorsed feature was adding more cardio equipment in that more than half of
students checked an interest in additional cardio equipment.
If you were improving/expanding recreation facilities, which of the following would be important to
you? (Students could check all that applied.)
60%
52%
50%
36%
40%
33%
32%
31%
31%
Mind/body
offerings
Additional
aquatics
offerings
30%
20%
10%
0%
Additional
cardio
equipment
Additional
strength
equipment
Additional open Adding a juice
or park space
bar or food
service area
Learning Outcomes of Campus Recreation Participation
Students were asked to indicate the skills they obtained from participation in campus recreation
activities. The outcomes grouped around aspects of social and emotional development, such as
a sense of belonging, respect for others, and time management skills, and more direct physical
and wellness benefits, such as balance, fitness, and stress management.
Large percentages of students who participate in campus recreation endorsed that their
participation had ‘definitely’ improved or increased their . . .










Feeling of well-being (50% of students indicated definitely)
Overall health (50%)
Fitness level (48%)
Physical strength (47%)
Stress management (43%)
Weight control (39%)
Self-confidence (34%)
Balance and coordination (33%)
Time management (31%)
Ability to get a good night’s sleep (31%)
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2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
The outcomes were examined in relationship to various recreational activities. Higher
correlations exist between participation in activities that require students to engage with others,
such as open recreation and sport clubs, and the outcomes related to social and emotional
development.
The activities of weight training and utilization of cardio-vascular equipment were more highly
correlated with the outcomes that relate to physical development and wellness in comparison
to some of the group recreational activities, which were more highly correlated with social and
emotional development.
A majority of students agreed that their participation in campus recreation had resulted in skills
and abilities that they would use after college.
Participation in recreational activities has provided me with skills/abilities that I will use after
college.
40%
34%
35%
30%
28%
27%
25%
20%
15%
10%
7%
4%
5%
0%
Strongly agree
Somewhat
agree
Neutral
Somewhat
disagree
Strongly
disagree
Satisfaction
Student satisfaction with on-campus recreation is related to endorsement of outcomes, such
that more satisfied students were more likely to endorse various outcomes of participation in
campus recreation.
Overall, students were very satisfied with campus recreation. A large majority of students (85%)
agreed that they would recommend on-campus recreation facilities and programs to others.
Students were asked about their perceptions and satisfaction with various aspects of facilities
and programs.
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2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Percentage of students in agreement2 with the following statements:
Recreation facilities provide a safe environment.
Recreation facilities are clean.
Fitness equipment is well-maintained.
Professional staff members are knowledgeable.
91%
89%
82%
76%
Percentage of satisfied students3:
Number of weight machines
Number of cardio machines
Hours of operation during the week
69%
58%
83%
Healthy Lifestyles
More than 71% of students agreed that their participation in on-campus recreational activities
had expanded their interest in staying fit and healthy.
Students were asked to reflect upon the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle prior to
enrolling at college. Over 43% of students indicated that maintaining a healthy lifestyle was very
important to them prior to enrolling at college. Students were also asked to reflect on the
importance after leaving college. Approximately 62% of students said that maintaining a healthy
lifestyle would be very important to them after leaving college, thus suggesting a change in their
perspective during college.
Start Over and Likelihood of Continuing Enrollment
Students who use campus recreation facilities, programs, and/or services were more likely to
indicate that they would choose the same institution they are now attending if they could start
over versus students who do not use Campus Recreation facilities, programs, and/or services.
Students who use campus recreation facilities, programs, and/or services were more likely to
indicate that they intend to be enrolled at the same college/university in the next
semester/quarter versus students who do not use campus recreation facilities, programs,
and/or services.
2
Agreement items were asked on a 1-5 scale with 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree. Percentage in agreement
throughout this report is the combined percentage of those respondents that strongly agreed or somewhat agreed.
3
Satisfaction items were asked on a 1-5 scale with 1=very dissatisfied and 5=very satisfied. Percentage satisfied is the combined
percentage of those respondents that indicated very or somewhat satisfied.
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2010 NIRSA/NASPA Consortium Campus Recreation
Impact Study
Time of Day of Recreation Participation
Students were asked at what times they are most likely to utilize on-campus recreational
facilities. The most popular time of day to utilize facilities is in the early evening.
What time of the day are you most likely to utilize facilities during the week?
33%
35%
30%
25%
22%
19%
20%
15%
10%
7%
9%
10%
5%
0%
Early morning Morning (8 a.m. Mid-day (11
(before 8 a.m.)
- 11 a.m.)
a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Afternoon (2 Early evening (5 Late evening
p.m. - 5 p.m.) p.m. - 8 p.m.) (after 8 p.m.)
Students who utilize campus recreation facilities in the early morning or mid-day during the
week reported having gained the most in terms of the physical development and wellness
outcomes. This was a significant finding when comparing these students to those who use
campus recreation in the evening.
Time Spent using Recreation Facilities
On average, the more time students reported spending utilizing the on-campus recreational
facilities or participating in programs or activities per visit . . .
o The more strongly they agreed that recreation activities and programs
contribute to the quality of life at their institution
o The more strongly they agreed that recreation offers “something for everyone”
o The more strongly they agreed that participation in recreational activities have
provided them with skills/abilities that they will use after college
o The more strongly they agreed that overall, they would recommend recreation
facilities, programs, and services to others
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