How UMass Boston’s ice-skating program evolved into a thriving campus recreation offering by intentionally removing barriers and meeting students where they are.
In 2015, the University of Massachusetts Boston’s (UMass Boston) ice-skating program served a limited group of students with few resources and little visibility. Nearly a decade later, the program has grown into an extremely popular campus recreation offering, expanding participation, broadening access and fostering a sense of belonging for students who may not otherwise find their place through traditional recreation.
The program’s transformation didn’t happen overnight — it took hard work and dedication from the UMass Boston Recreation department.
From Underused Ice to Unexpected Demand
UMass Boston had an ice rink in 2015, but participation was very low. Open skate sessions averaged around three to four students, which Andrew Castagna, the assistant director of Recreational Programming and Member Services, attributed to students not having skates and a lack of visibility around the facility and program.
That fall, Castagna and John Pagliarulo, the associate director of Athletics for Recreation and Finance, hosted a Skate Night and partnered with a vendor to bring in ice skates. Sixty students showed up — far more than anticipated.
What surprised the team most wasn’t the number of students there, but who showed up.
“We had only seen a couple of people coming to our open skate, and then we saw this massive group of 60 individuals wanting to skate that had no idea how to skate at all,” said Castagna. “The 60 people were students we never saw in any of our intramurals, group classes or fitness center. It was capturing a different population on campus.”
The team started hosting Skate Nights twice a year, and participation quickly grew from 60 students to over 500 in just a few semesters.
This event revealed something vital for the program’s growth. Student interest wasn’t the issue; access was.
A Turning Point for the Program
Following the success of the Skate Night events, the campus rec department focused on building the program intentionally rather than expanding it all at once.
The major turning point for the program came in 2022, when the department invested in its own fleet of skates. Almost immediately, participation increased.
“It was a pretty quick transition from having relatively sparse attendance to averaging around 40 people per session,” said Matthew Lee, the manager of Intramural Programs and Informal Recreation. “The numbers have gone up each semester.”
What began as an underused pilot program quickly became one of the department’s most popular offerings. Open skate session participant numbers quickly started to rise, now averaging between 35 and 40 students, with some nights seeing up to 80 participants. Skate Nights turned into UMass Boston’s signature Rec the Halls event, helping informal recreation ice-skating programs gain exposure.
Overcoming Obstacles
While growing the program didn’t come without its challenges, the team only came out stronger.
The campus rec department shares the ice rink with the athletics department and outside groups, including Boston College High School. Throughout the years, Pagliarulo said they struggled to figure out timing and access for the students before arriving at their current schedule.
“We’re able to be in the rink three weeknight evenings a week, which is huge,” said Lee. “Moving the times to 7 p.m. has definitely helped increase attendance.”
Skate sharpening was another challenge the department faced. The team previously used a skate sharpener owned by the hockey teams before it broke. After searching for a solution, Lee said they found a portable sharpener, which is very easy for students to learn how to use.
“Even just little bits of operational pieces to make the program run have improved a lot,” explained Lee. “We’ve found solutions to things as we go.”
Creating Community on the Ice
Ice skating programs became an ideal place for students who struggled to find a place in traditional campus rec at UMass Boston. “The more diversification you can provide for your recreational program, the more people you can serve,” said Pagliarulo.
Even within ice skating programming itself, the team has found ways to add variety to reach more students.
The department started offering lessons for those unfamiliar with ice skating in 2025, with more than 30 students completing lessons in the first year.
Now, the department offers lessons for multiple skill levels and saw 36 students complete lessons in the fall semester alone — double the number of participants from last fall.
Lee said the lessons will continue through the spring semester, and the beginner class is already full.
“It’s pretty great to see people still want to take lessons,” said Lee. “It’s a lot of people who have never skated before. Some people fall a bit and learn, but the people out there have been very supportive. The sense of community is great.”
Lessons for Campus Rec Pros
The growth of the UMass Boston ice-skating program offers several key takeaways for campus rec professionals seeking to expand participation and foster belonging.
First, Castagna stressed the importance of clear marketing. He advises connecting with campus partners to help promote underused facilities or programs to reach a range of students.
“It definitely takes a village to push some content on our campus, because most of the students might not be physically seeing the ice rink unless they go over there for a specific reason,” said Castagna.
Pagliarulo suggested understanding the campus community better and avoiding assumptions about what students like or dislike. Coming up with creative ways to get students moving and create a sense of belonging can help uncover untapped resources to take advantage of.
Finally, the team emphasized continuous improvement. Castagna said not to give up on a program if it doesn’t work the first time, but to work to enhance or modify it. Trial and error are a key part of creating engaging programming to stick with students and shouldn’t discourage innovation.
Overall, the UMass Boston ice skating program demonstrates how thoughtful investment, creative problem-solving, and intentional outreach can transform an underused facility into a thriving hub for student engagement.
For campus rec professionals, the key is enhancing access, building community and continuously adapting programs to meet student needs. With dedication and collaboration, even small initiatives can grow into impactful experiences resonating with diverse student populations and strengthening campus rec as a whole.
