Department Spotlight: Recreation And Physical Education

Department: Duke Recreation and Physical Education

Years at Duke: While recreation centers and organized sports have existed at Duke for some time, the Recreation and Physical Education department was established in October 2009.

Who they are: The department covers general recreation activities for the entire Duke community, as well as academic courses for students. Recreation activities available for students, faculty and staff include aquatics, intramurals, outdoor adventure trips, group fitness, personal training and more. (Classes dealing with marketing, wellness and some sports are only available to Duke students).

What they're known for: During the academic year, instructors from the Recreation and Physical Education department teach about 50 fitness classes a week. Classes include kickboxing, yoga, pilates, cardio dance and more. These classes, in addition to the intramural program, are open to faculty and staff who are members of the Wilson and Brodie recreation centers. "Our intramural program is very successful," said Felicia Tittle, executive director of the department. "We have eight different sports and scheduled 2,000 games between August 2011 and April 2012."

What they do for you: Duke employees receive discounted membership for access to the Wilson and Brodie recreation centers through LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke's employee wellness program. "While you have to be a member to access our facilities, everything that we have is offered to faculty and staff," Tittle said. "That includes our weight rooms, tennis courts, cardio equipment, swimming pools and free group fitness classes, intramurals and sports clubs."

Number of employees: 17 full-time and about 150 part-time employees, which includes fitness instructors, trip leaders, intramural officials, and more.

Hidden department/unit fact: The department offers outdoor adventures, clinics and workshops that faculty and staff can attend without a membership to the Wilson and Brodie recreation centers. Adventures include a fee and range from horseback riding to rock climbing. The outdoor adventure schedule is updated prior to each academic semester. Faculty and staff also do not need to be members to use the recreation department's tennis courts or soccer fields.

Significant achievement: "We've made some great improvements to our facilities in recent years," Tittle said. That includes a $450,000 renovation last year to the Wilson weight room which was outfitted with about 30 new machines, flooring and more.

Big goal: Tittle said that Recreation and Physical Education wants to increase facility membership among faculty and staff to help promote healthier lifestyles for employees. "Our facilities are these hidden gems that some people might not know they have access to," she said. "Here's something you can do - right on campus - that gives Duke one more perk to offer staff and faculty."

How they make a difference: Students, faculty and staff accounted for 513,641 entries into the Brodie and Wilson recreation centers between August 2011 and April 2012. "When it comes to Duke students, there's no doubt that we create an atmosphere where they can exercise and be healthy, but we want the same thing for faculty and staff," Tittle said. "By offering on-campus alternatives for exercise, we want to make our recreation centers and classes a destination for everyone."

For more information about the Recreation and Physical Education department, its facilities and classes, visit recreation.duke.edu.