FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In spring 2017, University Recreation launched a program geared toward student success. In an effort to enhance and improve the student employee experience, University Recreation completed the first successful semester of UREC University.

UREC University is a semester long program designed to enhance student success through co-curricular experiences. This program focuses on professional development through bi-weekly classroom sessions based on the Social Change Model of Leadership Development.

"This type of student development programming has been within our vision for several years and it excites me that we've graduated our first class and have an incredible foundation to build on for the future," said Jeremy Battjes, director of University Recreation.

Eight students have graduated from the UREC University pilot program. These UREC student employees, all of whom are sophomores and juniors, served as a representation of over 450 part-time student employees. The application-based program was offered to current student employees at University Recreation and will be expanded in fall 2017.

"UREC University has helped me grow in the way that I interact with people," said Jackson McNeal, who works as a Service Center Assistant for University Recreation.  "I think I have learned a lot about how to relate and communicate with different types of people in a constructive manner."

The program graduates include Rachel Bolton, a sophomore Psychology major, Owen Clinton, a junior International Relations major, Olivia Dyer, a junior Public Health major, Connor Williamson, a sophomore Biomedical Engineering major, Manuel Vega De Gracia, a sophomore Psychology major, Chandler Nutt, a sophomore Business Management major, Brighton Redding, a sophomore Communication major, and Jackson McNeal, a sophomore English major.

University Recreation employs over 450 student and part-time employees annually in over 30 different positions. Learn more about these and other employment opportunities by visiting the UREC Employment page.  For further information, contact Becky Todd at 575-3276 or rdahl@uark.edu.