The Campus Recreation Center (CRC) is one of the most remarkable resources available to students at Georgia Tech. In fact, research conducted by Georgia Tech’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning has found that Tech students who frequently visit the CRC have higher GPAs and are more likely to return to Tech the following year. Conversely, the study found that students who never visited the CRC represented a significant portion of those who had the lowest GPAs and, more importantly, did not continue at Georgia Tech. While a number of factors influence the academic performance of our students, data analysis indicates “that the difference in retention rates are not due to chance alone – frequency of CRC visits do play a role.”

Whether students come to play basketball with friends, reach a new personal best on the track, or relax in the pool, the CRC offers an environment that meets the physical, emotional, and social needs of students in an academically rigorous atmosphere.

No matter what your student’s interests or style, there is an involvement opportunity waiting for them at the CRC. Our state-of-the-art facility offers a 15,000 square-foot fitness center, a climbing wall, two pools, a multipurpose gym, and various Healthy Lifestyle programs such as G.I.T. Fit.

The CRC’s G.I.T. FIT program offers more than 80 non-credit classes where students can learn life-long skills, improve personal fitness, and have fun. Classes range from triathlon training and aerobics to yoga to martial arts. Personal training, massage therapy, and the Biggest Loser program are also offered. The G.I.T. FIT program provides a way for students to go beyond traditional exercise and learn a fitness routine that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Intramurals and sport clubs are another very popular activity around campus. Friends, residence halls, Greek life, and campus organizations create teams to play intramural sports such as flag football, basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball. More than 35 sport clubs are also offered, allowing students to continue playing in competitive sports.

For the outdoor enthusiast, the Outdoor Recreation program, also known as ORGT, plans excursions around the state, country, and world that include caving, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and sea kayaking. In addition, ORGT allows students to rent camping equipment for personal camping trips.

The report by Institutional Research cited above concluded, “The Campus Recreation Center is a resource that, when fully utilized, enables the Georgia Tech community, particularly its students, to practice healthy behavior.” Beyond the outstanding education that Georgia Tech offers, regular use of the CRC provides many additional benefits that are important to developing a balanced, healthy lifestyle. As the study shows, it pays off!

Students looking to start their year off right can attend the CRC’s Welcome Home event, iRec. This is the perfect place for students to sign up for programs, join a team, get lots of free stuff, and learn more about everything the CRC has to offer! iRec will be held on the CRC front lawn August 20 from 4 – 7 p.m. and is open to all Georgia Tech students.