Campus Recreation

Complete Your Rec Center Waiver

The Campus Recreation department is housed in the state of the art 45,000 square foot Student Recreation and Fitness Center, opened in the fall of 2017. The facility serves as a home for indoor club sports, intramural sports, group exercise, and physical wellness programming. The building is part of a larger capital campaign that included the state of the art UPMC Events Center, which serves as the home to RMU's men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams.

Intramural sports offer students the opportunity to remain active and competitive in a variety of sports ranging from basketball and flag football to pickleball and video games.  Traditionally, we offer five team sports seasons in the fall and spring semesters.  We also hold a variety of recreation tournaments and sports-related contests during each semester.

With over 400 club sport participants, club sports remains as one of the university’s fastest growing areas.  Robert Morris offers 23 club sports, many of which have achieved national recognition.  Men's Basketball, Bowling, Men’s Volleyball, Golf, and Men’s ACHA D-I and D-III Ice Hockey have all competed in national championship tournaments.  Several of our club sport athletes have received national recognition for their team and individual accomplishments.  Club sports will continue to be a strength for Robert Morris University in the area of student participation.

There is an opportunity for everyone to participate in intramural and club sports at RMU.  If there is a program that is not offered currently and you have the interest in starting it here on campus, we can help you make it happen.  Intramural and club sports at the RMU strive to be a place that upholds one of the university’s core values that individuals matter.

Club Sports

For more information on our club sports, please proceed to our website rmuclubsports.com.

Fitness

To view the group fitness schedule and to register for classes visit rmu.edu/fitness

Hours of Operation

Student Recreation Center (SRFC):

Fall 2024 Hours Of Operation:

Monday – Thursday: 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Friday: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Yorktown Fitness (Open 24/7 for Yorktown residents)

• Phone: 412-397-5446
• For equipment issues please contact recsports@rmu.edu

Fitness Classes

• The Student Recreation and Fitness Center offers a range of fitness classes. To view current offerings and descriptions visit rmu.edu/fitclass
• Campus Recreation offers group fitness certifications. If interested, please contact recsports@rmu.edu

Wellness Phone Apps

The Counseling Center continues to provide counseling appointments, Monday - Friday / 9 am - 5 pm, through a hybrid model of both in-person and distance counseling (teletherapy) services.

• Counseling Center

Personal Training

If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer contact recsports@rmu.edu for more information.

Membership Information Can Be Found Here

Membership Options and Prices — Robert Morris University Student Recreation and Fitness Center (RMU SRFC) Memberships

The Robert Morris University Student Recreation and Fitness Center (RMU SRFC) offers membership to all full and part-time eligible faculty and staff employed by Robert Morris University University. The current fees are listed below. Please note: the office no longer accepts cash.

Pay For Membership With Payroll Deduction

Membership Office Hours

Membership office hours during the academic year (late August - Early May): Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Policies and Additional Information

All new members will be required to complete a waiver form.

Complete A Waiver

Full-Time Employees:

In order to join the recreation center full-time employees must elect for a fitness center membership through e-benefits. Once the election is made, a payroll deduction of $20.75 will begin in the following pay period and a report will be sent to the Fitness Operations Manager to add you as a member. Additionally, new members must complete a waiver form. To cancel a membership, employees must log in to e-benefits to waive the coverage and send an email to recsports@rmu.edu with 30 days notice.

• Fitness Center Membership Registration

• Cancel Fitness Center Membership

Part-Time Employees:

Part-Time Employees must purchase a membership via the button below. Additionally, new members should complete a waiver form. Part-time employees may select the duration of the membership within the Google Form. Once the form is completed the new member will immediately receive a payment link via an email.

Purchase Fitness Center Membership

Employee Spouses:

Spouses of current employees are eligible for membership at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. Full-Time employees must update their membership via the e-benefits platform to include their spouse in the payroll deduction. A membership form must also be completed. Spouses of part-time employees may also purchase a membership. They should select the duration of the membership within the Google Form. Once the form is completed the new member will immediately receive a payment link via an email.

• E-Benefit Platform
• Spouse Membership Form
• Part-Time Employee (Spouse) Membership

Graduate Students:

Graduate Students must purchase a membership via the button below. Additionally, new members should complete a waiver form.

Graduate Student Membership

Gateway Student Membership:

This membership is for the students in the Gateway Program who live off-campus and are enrolled in classes at Robert Morris University. The membership cost is $15 per month, and students must purchase a membership with the button below.  Additionally, new members should complete a waiver form.

Gateway Student Membership

Cancellation requests must be made in writing, with 30 days' notice. You may fill out a form at the membership office or email recsports@rmu.edu to obtain one. Please include your name, employee ID number, and the date you would like the cancellation to take effect. Office staff cannot accept cancellation requests over the phone. Members who wish to pay for the full year upfront with check or credit (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover) may visit the office during office hours to complete the application process and make their payment. These memberships are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Please note: The RMU SRFC does not accept cash or money order payments. Individuals interested in touring the facility and obtaining more information may visit the Member Services Office in the lobby area of the SRFC.

Please contact Campus Recreation directly at 412-397-5446 for any additional questions or concerns about summer fitness opportunities at the Recreation and Fitness Center.

Member Services Location:

Main Level (1st Floor Lobby Desk) Campus Map

Membership Fee Schedule

Rate Type	Valid For	Price	Expires	Additional Information
Rate 1	Graduate, online, Gateway, and nontraditional students	$15.00	Monthly
Rate 2	Faculty, Staff, Eligible Employees, Employee Spouses	$20.75	Monthly

Intramural and Recreation Facilities

North Athletic Complex (Student Recreation and Fitness Center)

The Campus Recreation department is housed in a brand new 45,000 square foot recreation center that opened in the fall of 2017. The new facility serves as a home for our indoor club sports, intramural sports, group exercise, and physical wellness programming. In addition to our student recreation and fitness center, the North Athletic Complex boasts outdoor basketball courts, a multi-sport court for soccer and floor hockey, tennis courts, and our varsity soccer and softball facilities. A schedule of the activities that take place on our recreation center basketball courts is available below.

 

Gus Krop Gym

The Gus Krop Gym, located inside the John Jay Center, houses all of our indoor intramural activities. The gymnasium can accommodate one main court for basketball or volleyball. It also contains four side baskets to accommodate for two smaller basketball courts. RMU club sports teams also use the gymnasium for weekly practices. The gym is only for the use of current RMU students. Non-students are not permitted to use the facility. Students are asked to have their RMU ID Cards when they use the facility.

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday: 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Hours Subject to Change

 

Yorktown Fitness Center

The Yorktown Fitness Center is located on the 1st Floor of the Yorktown Residence Hall.
Some of the amenities of the center include:

• An expansive 3,500 square feet dedicated to cardiovascular, selectorized plate-loaded
• State of the art cardiovascular equipment including Precor treadmills, upright and recumbent bicycles, adaptive motion trainers, elliptical cross-trainers and more
• Various types of selectorized (strength)
• Cardio-theater available on televisions located throughout the fitness area (personal headphones required).
• Dedicated space for stability balls, medicine balls, and equipment to focus on abs, core muscles, and stretching.
• Convenient access to campus through 24-hour shuttle service.

Facility Reservation

Student organizations may reserve a number of athletic/recreational facilities for group events, team practices or general recreation. Use of facilities are by reservation only, in which an online request must be submitted and approved through RMU Revolution.

Facilities Available For Reservation

• Recreation Center Courts
• Gus Krop Gym
• NAC Outdoor Sports Court
• Nicholson Front Lawn

*Other athletic facilities with special permission from Athletic department * indicates a reservation is always required to use this facility.

View Recreational / Athletic Facilities

Steps to Reserve a Facility:

• Your organization must be currently registered with SGA.
• An administrator for your organization should make a request in the Events tab of RMU Revolution. Your RMU Revolution account uses the same login credentials as your RMU Email.
• Submit your facility request through the RMU Revolution event request form. When submitting your request indicate the facility, dates and times you wish to reserve, and a description of the event.

Priority Reservation Dates:

All priority reservations dates are subject to change at any time by the Campus Recreation staff.

	Fall Requests	Spring Requests	Summer Requests
Athletics	Pre-confirmed	Pre-confirmed	Pre-confirmed
Intramurals and Recreation	Pre-confirmed	Pre-confirmed	Pre-confirmed
Competitive Club Sports	1st Monday in August	4th Monday in October	1st Monday in March
Recreational Club Sports	2nd Monday in August	1st Monday in November	2nd Monday in March
Division of Student Affairs/Residence Life	3rd Monday in August	2nd Monday in November	3rd Monday in March
Other SGA Organizations/Academic & Administration	4th Monday in August	3rd Monday in November	1st Monday in April

 

For student questions concerning recreational/athletic facility requests, please contact Armand Buzzelli, buzzelli@rmu.edu Director of Campus Recreation.

Intramural Sports

The purpose of Intramural sports at Robert Morris University is to provide all students an opportunity for participation in recreational sports. Intramural sports are one of the most popular activities on campus and are recognized by students, faculty, and alumni as an integral part of campus life. It provides friendly competition, exercise, recreation, and is an enjoyable outlet for all the participants.

The emphasis is on fun, not competition. Winning is not the primary goal but rather, the opportunity to exercise, develop leadership skills, experience camaraderie, meet new people, and learn a life-long activity, are the greatest rewards of intramural sports.

If you are interested in registering for an intramural sport, please register at www.imleagues.com/rmu.

We hope you will all join the IM team!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign up for an intramural sport?

Rosters will be distributed in the food court and via email from Campus Recreation prior to a season. All participants are required to register on www.imleagues.com/rmu.

When and where are games typically played?

Our traditional schedule includes games from Monday-Thursday evenings from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. We have several leagues that utilize NCAA facilities including flag football that has weekly games at Joe Walton Stadium and basketball where an entire 3-on-3 league is played at Sewall Arena. Most of our games take place in John Jay at Gus Krop Gym or the Intramural Field which is located directly behind the Rogal Chapel.

What if I can't find a team to play with?

If you sign up individually or with a small group, our Campus Recreation staff will work with you to place you with or individuals or undermanned teams to form a full roster.

Do females play intramural sports?

YES. We have an increasing number of female participants every year, with all of our sports being offered to both males and females. We have several leagues where all or primarily female teams have participated and had outstanding experiences.

Do you have any special events?

Campus recreation partners with many student groups throughout the year to create recreational sporting events. One of our signature events is the President's Mini Golf Classic sponsored by the Sport Management Association. Each year the organization works alongside a charitable organization to host a mini-golf event at the ISC where we raise money for a good cause and distribute great prizes to all of our participants.

Recreation

Our campus recreation department holds a number of recreational tournaments and events each year, ranging from whitewater rafting, to ski and snowboarding trips, to nature trail hikes, to esports tournaments. Students interested interested in participating in recreational events should contact recsports@rmu.edu.

Recreation Events

Register today via RMU Revolution.

Nature Trail

RMU has a mile long trail that starts behind the Jefferson Center and loops back around behind Colonial Village. The trails are part of the acres of wooded area that make up the beautiful landscape of our campus. There are several trails that branch off of the main loop, with a scenic view of a creek and small waterfalls along the way. Part of the history of RMU is preserved in the trails with landmarks that were part of the Kaufman family estate, whom the land was purchased from by the university. Several student, staff, and faculty lead organizations that lead hikes science projects along the trail.

Biking

The health and wellness committee and campus recreation department have organized several exciting opportunities for cycling enthusiasts including the “Ride of Your Life” trip from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. The annual trip which consists of students, staff, faculty, and alumni covers 5- days and approximately 340 miles. Travelling along the historic Greater Allegheny Passage, and C & O Canal Towpath, the ride travels through many historic towns and landmarks. Contact recsports@rmu.edu for more information.

Outdoor Recreation

Several outdoor recreational events are offered each year including ski trips to Seven Springs Ski Resort, kayaking trips on the Allegheny River through local outdoor organizations such as Venture Outdoors and Kayak Pittsburgh.

 

Campus Recreation Staff

Frances McPeek

Fitness Operations Manager
mcpeek@rmu.edu

Frances McPeek serves as the Fitness Operations Manager for Campus Recreation. She oversees the student staff who monitor the UPMC Fitness Center and all fitness programs including group exercise instruction. Frances holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Robert Morris University, with a sports concentration. She also holds several training certifications including the Biomechanics to Corrective Exercise Specialist, ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, CPR/AED/First Aid, ACE Sports Performance Specialist, and ACE Certified Personal Trainer.

Michael Joseph

General Manager of Collegiate Club Hockey
joseph@rmu.edu

Mike Joseph, Ph.D. has served as our General Manager of Collegiate Club Hockey since 2017. He has over 25 years of ice hockey coaching experience. Joseph was the inaugural coach of the program from 1995-2001, amassing a record of 76-25-11, which included three Western Pennsylvania College Hockey Association (WPCHA) Championships, and one Division III ACHA National Championship in 2002. Joseph was named coach of the year in the WPCHA in 1997-1998. Following his initial tenure with RMU, Joseph served as the head coach of the NCAA Division III Chatham College women’s team from 2002-2003, and the Baldwin High School boys team from 2005-2007. Just one season into his second stint with RMU, Joseph promptly guided a team that experienced three consecutive losing seasons to a College Mid-American Hockey (CHMA) championship and an appearance in the ACHA national tournament, while posting a 23-5-1 record. Joseph was named the 2014-2015 CHMA coach of the year for his efforts. Joseph holds both a bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in chemistry from Queens University in Ontario.

Payton Ernst

Club Sports Recruitment and Multimedia Coordinator
ernst@rmu.edu

Payton Ernst serves as the Club Sport Recruitment and Multimedia Coordinator for RMU Club Sports. She is the primary content creator for the club sports website, writing articles on teams and events and livestreaming a number of RMU Club Sports events. She is the point person for club sports recruitment, working directly with coaches and potential club sports athletes. Payton also manages a team of production staff that produces both live streams of club sports contests and video podcasts. Payton earned a bachelor's degree from the RMU Rockwell School of Business in sport management.

Meet The Instructors

Samantha Ettinger

sjetting624@gmail.com

Fitness has been an interest of hers since she began her bachelor's degree in Nutrition at Kent State University. Throughout her college career, she taught Zumba classes at a couple of community fitness centers in Ohio, the population of which was retired and working adults. These centers' members were very different: at one she had people walk out when she was subbing for the regular teacher, and the members at the other center were always wanting to try new things. Both helped her to grow as an instructor and she stays in touch with her old students on social media. 

When Sam moved to Pittsburgh for work, she completed her Master's degree in Health Informatics remotely and started teaching Zumba at RMU. At one point, Zumba at RMU had 30 people attending! When everything shut down for the pandemic, Zumba became less fun with just herself dancing, so she put a pause on eight years of dancing and started strength training. If you'd ever told her before that one day she'd enjoy lifting heavy things, she'd have called you crazy! But, she's been slinging dumbbells for three years now and has no plans to stop anytime soon. 

Sam follows Sydney Cummings Houdyshell, NourishMoveLove, and Christina Dorner on YouTube for her exercises. They ask her to do things that she might not normally ask herself to do (like mountain climbers, one of her least favorite exercises), which is beneficial for the mind and the body. Her biggest takeaways from strength training have been that there is no shame in dropping weight to maintain good form, and that failure is a good thing - it's necessary for growth. 

In April of 2023, Sam injured her knee, and without having clear answers on why it was swollen and painful, she took the plunge of trying KneesOverToesGuy and the Athletic Truth Group's knee rehab program. It requires an alternative way of thinking about strength relative to flexibility, the principles of which are sound - moreover, her knee is feeling a lot better. One of the main tenets of the program is walking backward, so if you pass someone going the wrong way, you're not in an alternative universe, and it's probably her! She's looking to incorporate some of the principles into her interval training/circuit training/Move IT classes. 

Sam's classes are low-pressure and flexible, and she is always amenable to modifications. Working to your own level is the most important thing, whether it's more powerful or more modified than her own. With her knee injury this year, she's taken a lot of modifications herself! She'll always encourage you to not be afraid of lifting or lifting heavier while keeping an eye on your form to keep you safe.

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Ellen Bufalini

ebufalini@comcast.net

Ellen has been teaching Yoga since 2011. She started teaching at RMU about 5 years ago. Yoga Nidra is the class that speaks to everyone. A relaxation technique that anyone can do.  Along with the Yoga Nidra class, she teaches the Asana (postures) class too. You will also find her at Three Rivers Yoga in Coraopolis. She is also a Yoga Therapist. Ellen is working to keep us all well.

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Frances McPeek

Frances is the Fitness Operations Manager at the Student Recreation Center and teaches a variety of classes on campus. She has been teaching classes for about 7 years, getting her start when she attended Robert Morris University for her undergraduate degree in Sport Psychology. The type of classes she has taught are multiple different formats of interval and circuit training, Spin, as well as strength training. Frances holds multiple certifications such as Escape Fitness Move-It Functional Fitness and Battlefit, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Sports Performance Specialist, ACE Certified Medical Exercise Specialist, and The Biomechanics Method to Corrective Exercise Specialist. She has worked with multiple different populations ranging from youth athletes to post physical therapy patients.

Frances loves teaching group exercise classes due to the connection it can bring to participants and the fun energy. She also enjoys when she sees people progressing to performing more difficult variations of exercises or picking up a heavier weight, as well as when people become more confident. Outside of teaching group fitness classes, Frances focuses on challenging herself with strength training every week.

Mission Statement

The mission of the campus recreation department is to engage all university constituencies in diverse and inclusive recreational sports and fitness programming that will enhance the campus living and learning environment, support student retention, and the academic mission of the university. Campus recreation programming will be student-centered, with purposeful leadership and development opportunities, while emphasizing social responsibility and relationship building. Our staff is committed to providing a welcoming and well-maintained environment for activities, staffed with an emphasis on customer service.

For more information, contact:
recsports@rmu.edu
412-397-5446
Student Recreation Center
Moon Campus