Campus Recreation
Spring 2015
INTRODUCTION
This survey, conducted by Student Affairs Research and Assessment, provides data on how students use recreation
facilities and services and what prevents greater use of Campus Recreation services at Penn State, University Park.
The survey also sought to measure student satisfaction with current recreation services and gather information on
how to expand and improve those services. Two random samples of 5,000 undergraduate University Park students
and 2,000 graduate University Park students were invited to participate.
In total, 489 undergraduate students and 284 graduate students responded to the survey. The response rate for
undergraduate student sample is 9.8% and the 95% confidence interval was +/-4.21%. The response rate for
graduate student sample was 14.2% and the 95% confidence interval was +/-5.39%. Of the undergraduate
respondents, 73.4% were White, 59.3% were female, and 54.4% lived off campus. Of the graduate respondents,
48.6% were White, 54.9% were female, and 97.2% lived off campus. Despite the low response rates, especially for
undergraduate students, there is no indication that these samples differ from the population in any meaningful
way. For additional information about the Pulse methodology, please visit:
http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/assessment/pulse.
FINDINGS
Use of Campus Recreation
Students were asked how frequently they used the recreational facilities since coming to Penn State. Overall,
58.1% of undergraduate and 36.3% of graduate students reported that they used campus recreational facilities at
least a few times per week (Figure1). There was a high percentage (27.1%) of graduate students that reported
never using campus facilities when compared to undergraduate students (13.7%) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Used Recreational Facilities
Undergraduate
Graduate
27.8%
Almost everyday
10.9%
A few times per week
25.4%
30.3%
18.4%
18.3%
A few times per momth
9.8%
About once per month
18.3%
13.7%
Never
0%
5%
27.1%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Penn State Pulse is a project of Student Affairs Research and Assessment.
For further information, please visit www.studentaffairs.psu.edu/assessment or contact
1
saraoffice@psu.edu, 120 Boucke, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 863-1809.
U.Ed. STA 15-93
This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment
opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html


Men, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, reported using the campus facilities more often than
women (data not shown).
Domestic undergraduate students reported using the facilities more often than international
undergraduate students. The opposite was true for graduate students; international students reported
using facilities more often than domestic students (data not shown).
Satisfaction with Recreation Facilities
Those respondents who reported using recreational facilities on campus were asked how satisfied they were
with specific facilities.
 Over 70% of undergraduates reported they were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied with
each campus facility (Table 1).
 The three facilities most used by undergraduate students were the fitness center in White Building, the
fitness center in Rec Hall, and the fitness center in IM Building (Table 1).
 The fitness center in Rec Hall, the fitness center in White Building, and free play/open recreation
activities were the top three facilities and programs which graduate students used. For those facilities
most used, more than 70% of the graduate students indicated their satisfaction with them (Table 1).
Table 1. Satisfaction with Recreational Facilities
% satisfied*
Program
Fitness Center in White Building
Fitness Center in Rec Hall
Fitness Center in IM Building
Free play/open recreation activities in White Building, IM
Building, Rec hall
Fitness Classes such as those in Rec Hall, White Building,
IM Building
Intramural programs
Club Sports programs
Student employment opportunities in Campus Recreation
Recreational lap swimming/drop in swim
Late night programming in the White Building
Adventure Recreation Center: Gear and Equipment
Rental
Non-credit/non-academic swimming lessons/classes
Adventure Recreation: Trips/Activities
Adventure Recreation Center: Resource Library
Vertical Adventures high ropes course
Non-credit/non-academic tennis lessons
Tennis center membership
Stone Valley Recreation Center winter activities
Stone Valley Recreation Center summer
activities/equipment rental
Stone Valley Recreation Center cabin rental
% used
Undergrad Graduate
76.7
55.6
66.9
59.5
63.0
37.3
Undergrad
76.0
91.2
90.9
Graduate
72.1
79.3
78.3
82.8
83.9
61.8
52.5
92.4
80.0
53.6
38.7
85.5
85.2
72.3
81.9
80.8
82.7
80.0
73.8
76.1
72.3
53.6
42.9
31.7
26.0
25.6
36.6
24.6
14.8
32.4
16.5
85.6
88.7
17.0
15.5
77.3
78.1
80.3
82.4
76.4
73.1
80.7
61.6
81.5
73.9
78.2
57.9
54.5
60.0
13.5
13.1
12.5
11.7
11.2
10.6
10.6
9.2
13.4
8.1
8.1
6.7
7.7
7.0
80.4
70.9
10.4
8.5
73.9
65.0
9.4
7.0
* Scale: 1=very unsatisfied, 2=somewhat unsatisfied, 3=somewhat satisfied, 4=very satisfied. The satisfaction percentages combine
“somewhat satisfied” and “very satisfied”.
2
Satisfaction with Facilities Availability
Those respondents who reported using recreational facilities on campus were asked how satisfied they were
with specific facilities.



Over 80% of undergraduates reported they were either “somewhat satisfied” or “very satisfied” with
the availability of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities (Table 2).
Of graduate students, 73.5% were satisfied with the availability of indoor facilities and 79% were
satisfied with the availability of outdoor facilities (Table 2).
Overall, more than 60% of the students agreed there is enough cardio and strength equipment in
fitness centers, with the exception that both undergraduate and graduate students were concerned
about the availability of the cardio equipment in the White Building (Table 3).
Table 2. Satisfaction of the Availability
% satisfied*
Undergraduate
Graduate
83.8
73.8
83.1
79.0
Program
Availability of Indoor Recreational Facilities
Availability of Outdoor Recreational Facilities
*The satisfaction percentages combine “somewhat satisfied” and “very satisfied”.
Table 3. Agreement of the Availability
Program
There is enough cardio equipment in the Rec Hall
There is enough strength equipment in the Rec Hall
There is enough cardio equipment in the White Building
There is enough strength equipment in the White Building
There is enough cardio equipment in the IM Building
There is enough strength equipment in the IM Building
% agreed*
Undergraduate
Graduate
66.7
62.1
76.0
74.0
47.7
55.8
60.4
70.0
86.1
80.7
79.8
80.5
*The agree percentages combine “somewhat agree” and “strongly agree”.
Obstacles to Participating
Students were asked what prevents them from using Campus Recreation offerings more often. The top three
obstacles identified as contributing to both undergraduate and graduate students’ decision not to participate in
Campus Recreation offerings were crowded facilities, lack of time, and a lack of knowledge about programs
(Figure2, scale is 1 = “none” to 4 = “a lot”).
Figure 2. Obstacles to Participating
Undergraduate
Graduate
3.50
2.75 2.77
Average Rating
3.00
2.50
2.31 2.24
2.42 2.30
Scheduled hours
Costs involved
2.80
2.96
2.81 2.71
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
Lack of knowledge
about programs
3
Lack of time
Facilities are too
crowded



Of undergraduate students, women were more likely than men to report that a lack of necessary skills
was an obstacle to participation (data not shown).
Of undergraduate students, international students were more likely than domestic students to say that a
lack of necessary skills, friends not participating, programs not interesting them, or a preference for nonPenn State facilities were obstacles (data not shown).
Of undergraduate students, infrequent users (students who use facilities equal or less than a few times
per month) were more likely than frequent users (students who use facilities at least a few times per
week) to say that a lack of knowledge about programs, costs, a lack of necessary skills, friends not
participating, crowded facilities, programs not interesting them, lack of time, or a preference for nonPenn State facilities were obstacles to participation (Figure 3, scale is 1 = “none” to 4 = “a lot”).
Figure 3. Obstacles to Participating
by Frequency of Usage
Infrequent user
3.50
Average Rating
3.00
3.02
2.63
2.91
Frequent user
2.79
2.64
2.50
2.70
2.89
2.14
2.49
2.03
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
Lack of time


Lack of knowledge
about programs
Costs involved
Facilities are too
crowded
Friends don’t
participate
Of graduate students, students of color were more likely than white students to say that a lack of
knowledge about programs and scheduled hours were obstacles that prevented them from
participating in campus recreation (data not shown).
Of graduate students, international students were more likely than domestic students to say that lack of
knowledge about programs, a lack of necessary skills, the scheduled hours, or friends not participating
were obstacles to participation. Domestic students were more likely than international students to say
that they prefer non-Penn State facilities (data not shown).
Student Attitude toward Open Facilities to Members of the Public
Students were asked to rate their level of agreement on whether members of the public should be able to
purchase a membership to the fitness facilities for a fee (note that this membership fee would cost more than
a student membership). For those who agree on public access, we asked about their level of agreement
regarding setting restrictions on what times members of the public could use their membership.
 Overall, 33.9% of undergraduate students and 50.5% of graduate students “somewhat agree” or “strongly
agree” that members of the public should be able to purchase a membership to the fitness facilities (data not
shown).
 More than half of the undergraduate students (57.4%) and graduate students (53.4%) agreed that there
should be a limit on what times members of the public could use their membership (data not shown).
4