Upon his arrival at Auburn University in 2010, Eric Smith was tasked with starting the Health Promotion and Wellness Services (HPWS) department. It was responsible for education and intervention programs on campus.
Most recently, however, Smith took a different direction.
It wasn’t without cause. In 2022, Jennifer Jarvis retired from her position as the executive director of Campus Recreation. As such, the Division of Student Affairs decided to reorganize the department. This meant Campus Rec and HPWS would report to the new executive director. So, Smith threw his hat into the ring.
“I started in November of 2022, and I could have hired a director of rec programs and a director of HPWS — we could’ve all gone about our merry way,” said Smith, the executive director of Recreation and Wellness. “But it just felt like it was a better use of our time, talent and energy to go this other direction.”
Integrating Two Departments
As such, HPWS still exists but it’s no longer alone. It’s part of Campus Rec, bringing two unique programs under one roof and name — Recreation and Wellness.
“Campus Rec was funded and supported differently — it was the big behemoth,” said Smith. “And then there was HPWS, which was a little bit scrappier, if you will. We were doing work that’s pretty acute, pretty intense stuff.”
It was a heavy lift integrating the two. But, Bryan Rush, the associate vice president of Student Affairs, noted each had the same purpose of fostering a campus atmosphere that cultivates and supports healthy lifestyle choices. So, the change just made sense. “The restructure allowed us to better align services and resources in a strategic manner that improved the student experience,” he shared.
In addition, HPWS moved into the rec center which decreases yet another barrier to health and wellness for students. AA and recovery-type gatherings are in the same building as the brand-new Olympic lifting studio on the main floor. Case management meetings happen walking the track, while other students are up on the North Cardio Deck using SkiErgs, the Hammer Strength HD Tread or Assault Bikes.
“You could come into the building because you’re struggling with alcohol, or you’re the pickleball club president and you have a meeting about a budget for a tournament,” said Smith. “We’re able to do a lot more for the students and serve in such a different capacity, and at the same time destigmatize some of the things HPWS dealt with because it’s all housed under one roof.”
Being in the same building has impacted the staff as well. Laure Butcher, the assistant director of personal training, OPL and Nutrition, shared it’s brought the expertise of both departments together. “Even though we’re all on one campus and things like that, there’s something to proximity,” she said. “It’s just those daily interactions that wouldn’t normally happen that lead to other collaborations and ideas.”
EXTRA CREDIT: Campus rec leaders share their food nourishment programs for students.
However, the staff has faced change overall. “We have hired a lot of new people, and this is impacting our coordinator level positions, a handful of which are new professionals in their first professional role,” said Smith. “We have completely rebuilt the financial operations area of our team, which means a lot of new processes and changes to systems people were used to. There is a new leadership team in place, and we’re still learning to trust each other, while bringing our vision to the table.”
Another alteration due to the integration involves Butcher heading up the nutrition component since May 2023. With a full-time registered dietitian and a graduate assistant registered dietitian, they can serve disordered eating, general nutrition education, outreach opportunities, pre-game and post-game meal information for club sports athletes, and more. “Our goal with this new piece is to get the education out there before the issues arise,” said Butcher. “I think a lot of people are thinking about this, but no one is talking about it. So, how can we talk about it with our roommates, our friends and our classmates?”
While the integrating of the two departments is still new, Rush is happy with how Recreation and Wellness is managing the change. “Both areas were already operating at high levels, and that’s continued through the combined efforts of the staff,” he said.
At the core, the drive of the staff is their belief that what they do can truly change lives for the better. Of course, amazing facilities, and a variety of programs and services help achieve this. However, the team is the crucial part. “Our people make it all come together, and they truly do embody our core values of being student-centered, passionate, adaptable, accountable and having fun,” said Smith.
While the integration is still settling, Rush is happy with the progress. “All key performance indicators have continued to grow,” he said. “Most importantly, the transition for students has been seamless.”
Thriving Programs Under the Integration
Students still have the wellness benefits of HPWS, and they still have all the programs of Campus Rec. From Auburn Outdoors, a full-service bike and rental shop, 42 club sports teams, a glute-specific training area in the center, and more, there’s a lot to choose from.
In fact, one thriving program is Intramural sports. Keegan Ashbee, the assistant director of Competitive Sports, said they don’t focus on numbers and growth. Instead, they look to increase the quality and availability of programming. This is one factor of their success.
The second is the Turf and Landscape team that oversees the Shaw Sports Turf and natural grass fields. “That crew is really the secret sauce behind the success,” said Ashbee. “They spend countless hours leveling, cutting, painting, prepping and rehabbing the two facilities.”
EXTRA CREIDT: Tips on developing team leaders.
Finally, the third factor is student staff training. Ashbee said they make sure to teach things such as conflict resolution, communication skills and more. “Officiating intramural sports is the hardest college job one can have on campus,” he said. “We take pride in developing and training our student staff in how to handle very difficult situations each night on the field/course.”
All of this has come together to make a standout program. In fact, in Fall 2023 flag football had a waitlist after 90-plus teams were already signed up. “The program’s success is attributed to its inclusivity, excellent facilities, and a wide variety of options to cater to different interests and skill levels,” said Smith. “Our student staff really pours into making the intramural program a success. It’s awesome to see.”
Looking Ahead at Auburn University
However, Smith is already looking 10 years down the road due to a short stint as the interim executive director of Housing. While in the role, he saw how they have a 10-year cycle for their facilities. When he came to Campus Rec, they didn’t have that plan. And upon running a capacity project, the revelation was startling. “We’re at capacity in the weight room and at capacity on the courts at certain peak times,” he shared. “You have to start thinking about where we’re going to put these people. Enrollment at Auburn University is amazing — it’s strong. We are projected to grow at least for the next few years.”
Serving about 61% of undergrads right now, Smith noted that if 100% took advantage of the rec center — as every student pays the Recreation and Wellness fee — they couldn’t accommodate them. “I could talk for hours about what a 5% increase in participation is going to look like over 10 years,” said Smith. “It’s just a nice, healthy reminder to always be planning for the future.”
While it’s a challenge to stay ahead of the curve, Smith and the Recreation and Wellness team at Auburn aren’t afraid of the task or the change that will ensue. Showing their grit in the HPWS and Campus Rec integration, their passion for Auburn is clear in all they do. As Smith mentioned, they come in the doors every day to their home away from home, ready to make the world a better place.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t also note that Auburn University is a special place to be,” said Smith. “It’s a place a lot of folks choose to call home for an extended portion of their careers, and that’s certainly true for me and several people on our team. I think because of that time in the saddle, so to speak, our team is deeply committed to do the best we can for the future of Auburn.”
