About Us

University Recreation and Wellness Mission

Our mission is to serve all students and the greater University community by enriching the campus experience and encouraging lifelong wellbeing. We are driven to develop leaders, foster supportive relationships, and inspire active living through recreation and wellness.

Strategic Priorities of Department

  • Maintain competitive student employee wage structure through periodic evaluation to attract and retain quality staff.
  • Continuously seek innovative offerings to draw in and engage with underserved student groups (e.g. Adaptive Sport and Recreation).
  • Develop funding sources and requests based on cost estimates for outdoor facility enhancements at the West Bank Fields, St. Paul Gym (Bowl), and National Fitness Campaign project on the Eastbank campus. 
  • Continue assessments of and engagement with student and non-student populations to develop a better understanding of their wellbeing needs and to drive awareness of and participation in our programs and services.
  • Actively explore mutually beneficial sponsorship/partnership opportunities in collaboration with the Office for Student Affairs and University and external partners.
  • Serve as a catalyst for the division-wide implementation of the OSA Student Employment Program (a key piece of the OSA Strategic Plan).
  • Assess the current and adapt for future staffing opportunities in alignment with the mission and priorities of the department.

Expand all

Equity + Diversity + Inclusion

RecWell Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI)


Mission

Encouraging and supporting the inclusion of differences through recreation and wellness.

2020-21 Goals
  • Create a welcoming and inclusive culture within RecWell where everyone belongs.
  • Implement diversity and inclusion awareness training for staff.

For questions about RecWell's EDI initiatives, please contact us at [email protected]

Advisory Board

We Want To Hear From You

The purpose of the University Recreation and Wellness Advisory Board (URWAB) is to advise University Recreation and Wellness (URW) on matters relating to the overall operation (programs, facilities, and services) of the department. The Board shall recommend activities which represent the expressed needs of the students, staff and faculty on the Twin Cities campus. Additionally, the Board shall provide administrative review and oversight of the annual Student Services Fees Request and Appropriation. The Director, with recommendation from the Board, shall interpret and establish policy, mission, and goals.
 

Student organizations are represented with an expectation to review minutes and agenda prior to meetings and convey timely information and updates to their student constituents.  The URWAB members commit to meet on a monthly basis (historically in the mornings on Fridays) where academic and university schedules allow.  The proposed eight (8) meetings take place monthly from September-April). Student and non-student reps advocate for their constituents while providing updates, concerns and questions brought forward from their respective organizations and in alignment with the work, mission and goals of the department. 

Emphasis is placed on financial effectiveness and efficiency with respect to the relationship between student fee funding and self-generated income. Reps are asked to attend all meetings and prepare through reading of minutes and sharing of information to and from their represented stakeholders. Proxy reps for meetings unable to attend are requested. While not a requirement of service to the URWAB, reps who are active members of URW programs and facilities are preferred.

If you have a comment or question for the Advisory Board, please contact [email protected]

2020-2021 Advisory Board Members
Student Representatives

NameOrganizationEmailTerm End
Sofiya Briguene (Chair)At-Large Representative[email protected]May 2024
Nicholas Kuffel (Vice Chair)At-Large Representative[email protected]May 2025
Shayla MillerAt-Large Representative[email protected]May 2024
Cade CarleyAt-Large Representative[email protected]May 2024
Brynn Hirsch (SAC Rep)Undergraduate Student Government[email protected]May 2024
Felix TingCouncil of Graduate Students[email protected]May 2024
Jake LisherHousing and Residential Life[email protected]May 2024
Berit HansenGreek Life Representative[email protected]May 2024
Peter GroshensGreek Life Representative[email protected]May 2024
Aiyappa Mandepanda Appanna (SHAC rep)International Student and Scholar Servies[email protected]May 2024
Julia NeutgensSpecial Olympics[email protected]May 2024

 

Staff/Faculty Representatives

NameOrganizationDepartment/CollegePhoneEmailTerm End
Greta SimonsP & AOffice of Admissions/Office of Undergraduate Education6-4517[email protected]May 2025
Rahfat HussainP & AFinance Operations Center5-0909[email protected]May 2025
Brandi HoffmanFaculty School of Kinesiology5-8868[email protected]May 2024
Kevin RossP & ACapital Project Management6-8283[email protected]May 2024
Dr. George BrownEx-OfficioUniversity Recreation and Wellness5-9037[email protected] 

 

Staff Advisors

NameOrganizationDepartment/CollegePhoneEmailTerm End
Tyler AtchisonStaff AdvisorUniversity Recreation and Wellness5-6586[email protected]May 2024
Bethany HirschiStaff AdvisorUniversity Recreation and Wellness5-3794[email protected]May 2025

 

Sub-Committee Contact List

Finance Sub-Committee

NameOrganizationDepartment/CollegePhoneEmailTerm End
Karen LovroEx-OfficioUniversity Recreation and Wellness5-7891[email protected] 

Alumni

RecWell Excellence Fund

Making a Gift to Recreation & Wellness

Thank you for considering a gift to University Recreation and Wellness. The financial commitment University students make to RecWell through student fees have historically made programs and services successful.

However, private philanthropy from alumni and friends inevitably make programs better, all while easing the expense put on students.

Investing in Our Future

A gift to RecWell is an investment in the overall wellness of students and it additionally supports positive outcomes in the classroom and in college life respectively.

Give to Excellence Fund