Drexel Athletics 2024-2025 Annual Report | Recreation

URec By the Numbers

Total Impressions: 609,099 (7% increase from 23-24)
Distinct Users: 14,493 (11% increase from 23-24)

Adults Learning Life Lessons in the Pool

Rob Heller, a swimming instructor in University Recreation, was interviewed in a June 10 CBS News story about the University's swimming classes and the benefits of learning to swim, even later in life. The Drexel aquatic program increased the number of swim lesson packages with 60 individuals participating in private lessons.

URec Serves as Hub for Welcome Week Activities

University Recreation hosted various events throughout campus to welcome incoming students to Drexel during Welcome Week ’24. Among the activities, included:

Bounce-a-palooza
Dive in Movie (Little Mermaid Live Action)
Basketball Skills Challenge
Club Sports Expo

Drexel URec Offers Health and Wellness Resources

The Drexel University Recreation center offers a broad range of health and wellness resources for students, faculty, staff and community members, including both complimentary and fee-based group fitness, exercise and personal training classes and access to a broad range of facilities and sports equipment. The Drexel Rec Center’s Instagram account also offers video clips and tips on different exercises people can try when they come into the gym.

The Rec Center offered over 1,000 class opportunities during the fall-spring and group exercise doubled personal training sessions from 2023-24. At least one class is offered every day, ranging from yoga and mat Pilates to Zumba, spin and Body Combat classes.

URec Hosts Annual Employee Olympics

Over 130 faculty and professional staff members participated in fan-favorite activities and new offerings at this year’s annual Employee Olympics on March 26, providing benefits-eligible faculty and professional staff with an opportunity to engage in friendly competition and wellness activities.

Events included team sports — pickleball (2v2) and baggo (2v2) — as well as a non-competitive Fun Walk available both on-campus and virtually. New this year, the gauntlet provided participants a fun fitness challenge. Dragons had to toss a bag in the cornhole, hit a water bottle with a football, score a "goal" in soccer and shoot a free throw with a basketball.

Intramural Sports, Climbing Participation Grows while Club Sports Success Continues

URec continued to see growth in intramural participation with 1,339 individual participants, a 25% increase in from the previous year. The return of the Buckley Bubble and turf field at the Vidas athletic complex allowed for additional midweek programming, including two new offerings, cricket and softball. URec also saw expanded usage of its Indoor Climbing Wall, highlighted by 37 participants in the “Too Big To Flail” event held in the spring and 65 students participating in Welcome Week’s “Climb for Cookies.”

Eight of Drexel’s club sports programs represented the University at their respective National Championships, including Climbing, Cricket, eSports, Fencing, Men’s Volleyball, Powerlifting, Ski & Board, and Swimming.