SARC was awarded the Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award, the Innovative Use of Technology Award and the Website Excellence Award from the National College Learning Center Association at its annual conference. NCLCA works to recognize institutions with learning centers that exemplify the highest standards of the association, with an emphasis on the use of technology and being a model for other institutions.  

The Frank L. Christ Award is a highly regarded national honor for excellence as a learning center in higher education. Each year, a two-year and four-year institution of higher learning is presented with the award.

The Innovative Use of Technology Award recognizes learning centers that use innovative technology solutions to improve student learning, resource usage, student engagement, and work to enhance learning strategies. SARC’s online services for students include Online Peer Assisted Learning, learning skills materials, videos, a YouTube channel and live-streaming of final exam review sessions offered during Study Union. In 2016-17, more than 43,000 students used SARC’s online services.

SARC also tied for first place for the Website Excellence Award, which recognizes excellence of a learning center’s website in the areas of content, structure, navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity and overall experience. This award is co-sponsored by the Learning Support Centers in Higher Education and NCLCA.

SARC is a unit in Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services and is led by Rebecca Piety, who also serves as the director the University Testing Center, and is the president of the Florida College Learning Center Association. SARC assisted students 119,000 times in 2016-17.

“The Student Academic Resource Center is committed to transforming students’ lives through innovative learning support services,” said DeLaine Priest, associate vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services. “We are honored that NCLCA has recognized SARC with three national awards.”

At the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝, Recreation and Wellness Center users are likely to have higher grade-point averages compared to non-users, and are more likely to stay in school, according to university data.

Those who used the RWC more than 45 times in the fall 2016 semester – the most recent GPA data – had an average GPA of 3.18, compared to the average GPA of non-users at 3.08. Even those who used the RWC just one to five times in semester had an average GPA higher at 3.13 than non-users, according to the data.

First-year retention rates also were higher among RWC users. Of the 2015-16 first-time-in-college cohort, 92 percent of students who used the RWC more than 45 times in the fall 2015 semester – the most recent retention data – continued their education. Nearly 90 percent of students who used the RWC 11-20 times that semester stayed in school, while 86.6 percent of first-time students who did not use the RWC stayed in school.

“Students want a sense of belonging,” said Sarah Hunt, associate director of facilities at the RWC who spearheaded analyzing the data. “They get the benefits of exercising, and they also become connected to others by coming with a workout partner or joining a team.”

RWC executive director James Wilkening added, “If someone is a healthier person, they’re bound to be more successful. Their attention span is greater, they have a lower absentee rate and much more.”

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ data back to 2012 shows the trend of higher GPAs and retention rates among RWC users stands true. Average GPAs of frequent RWC users from fall 2012 to fall 2016 improved from 3.16 to 3.18, while average GPAs of non-users in that same time frame went from 3.06 to 3.08. Retention rates of first-time students who used the RWC consistently also were higher by at least 3.2 percent, according to the data.

“Some argue that recreation and wellness centers at colleges and universities are just luxuries that shouldn’t be something fees are spent on,” Wilkening said. “But we see the more people use the RWC, the more we assist with the overall goals of the university.”

Nationally, the trend still stands true. In “The Benefits of Campus Recreation,” published by NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation in 2014, 68 percent of more than 33,500 students surveyed said campus recreation helped improve their academic performance. Seventy-four percent said campus recreation facilities influenced their decisions to continue at their college or university, while 67 percent said campus recreation programs influenced their decision to continue at their school.

“I’m not at all surprised to find that benefits of campus recreation shine through at a school as large as Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝,” said Pam Watts, executive director of NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation. “The data you point to at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝, shown in such a large student population, strengthens the data for and is further evidence of the positive correlation between utilizing campus recreation offerings and higher GPA and retention rates.”

“We applaud Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s efforts to create and integrate recreation and wellbeing best practices to enhance learning and student success,” Watts said.

For Bryan Cazal, a sophomore finance major, the commitment he’s further developed for his wellbeing by going to the RWC five times a week has carried over into a greater commitment to school, he said.

Exercising also has been crucial to relieving stress, said Alyson Heemskerk, a junior studying nursing who goes to the RWC daily.

“Sometimes I feel like my stress levels are through the roof,” she said. “I’m here two-three hours a day. I don’t feel good about myself if I’m not here.”

Even with a full course load during the school year, Heemskerk said she would still make time to go to the RWC.

“I found it was a good break from studying and it got me re-energized,” she said. “I’d come at night or in between classes – whenever I could.”

Nearly 4,000 students who make up the 47 social Greek-lettered organizations on campus raised $1,065,391 from August 2016 to May 2017. Money raised went to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Feeding Children Everywhere, Military Heroes Campaign, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross and many more.

“Philanthropy comes naturally to the Greek organizations,” said Josh Bologna, a senior studying industrial engineering who was Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Greek Council president in 2016-17. “If you wear letters, you’re held at a high standard and that’s created a culture of giving that continues to grow.”

The community in the previous year raised nearly $821,000, and Bologna credits the jump in giving to greater collaboration among the fraternities and sororities. They were strategic scheduling fundraising events so the chapters would not compete with each other.

“It’s hard for the rest of the community to support a cause with their time and money when two or more big events would happen right next to each other,” he said.

That’s why the Greek Council worked to increase communication and collaboration among the chapters. Instead of two organizations hosting competing events to benefit the same cause, they would join forces to host a larger event, combine their manpower to find more sponsors, and ultimately garner more attention and donations.

Fundraisers included partial-proceeds nights at local restaurants, lip-synch competitions between the chapters to raise awareness and money for breast cancer, all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts with profits going to St. Jude’s Hospital, and many more. Greek community members often let their creativity shine when planning fundraiser events, Bologna said.

Also in the 2016-17 academic year, chapter members collectively volunteered 86,795 hours to local and national organizations such as Relay for Life, Boys and Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Shepherd’s Hope, Clean the World and others.

“Our fraternity and sorority members certainly live out the values of the organizations they contribute to,” said Woody Joseph, director of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Fraternity and Sorority Life. “It’s exciting to see that they’re so passionate about contributing towards local and national causes, whether it’s through raising funds or getting their hands dirty with volunteer projects.”

Joseph anticipates the amount raised will continue to grow.

“I was surprised this year because $1 million has never been reached before, but at the same time, I know how our students are when they’re determined to achieve something,” he said. “I think they’ll make it their goal to reach $1 million again.”

â—Ź What is it like to be an international student at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝? Moderated by Swaran Nandini, a panel of international students at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ discuss their experiences studying at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ and answer audience questions. Free smoothies from Smoothie King will be provided to those who show up early.

International Student Panel  |  Nov. 15 @ 3-4 p.m., Global Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ 122

â—Ź Learn tips and tricks to studying abroad from students who’ve done it successfully. The event is a partnership of SDES and Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Abroad.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Abroad: Be in the Know  |  Nov. 16 @ 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., 63 South Conference Room (Ferrell Commons)

For questions, call 407.823.6471.

Ten graduating seniors have accepted positions at universities nationwide:

“With over 400 student employees, the RWC offers students a variety of advancing leadership opportunities to develop their skills and make them very marketable to potential employers,” said Gary Cahen, associate director of RWC programs.

Since 2012, the RWC has produced 36 graduate assistants. These students will work in exchange for the opportunity to earn their Masters degrees on tuition waivers.

“Campus Recreation is infectious, once you get in, and get bitten by the right bug, it’s hard to find a career in anything else,” said Stancheski. “Working at the RWC has prepared me to reach my career goals by having influential and motivating professional staff mentors that want nothing but the best for you and your future.”