Students in the Plourde Recreation Center

The Center of Fitness and Recreation

Go for a swim, shoot some hoops, run the indoor track, work out in a state-of-the-art fitness and recreation facility, and enjoy some downtime with your friends. The Plourde offers students year-round access to an advanced recreation center complete with two weight rooms (varsity and recreational), cardio machines, an indoor track, three basketball courts, a pool, multi-purpose rooms, a sauna, and locker rooms.

The Plourde Recreation Center provides the Assumption University community with a number of exciting and challenging fitness, intramural, club sport, and aquatic opportunities. The Campus Recreation staff is committed to providing diverse recreational opportunities to help promote a sense of community, support student development, and encourage the pursuit of a healthy active lifestyle for all students, faculty, and staff.

Assumption student during a workout in the Plourde Recreation Center's recreational weight room.
Assumption students lifting weights

Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles for Over 30 Years

Since it first opened in 1993, the Plourde Recreation Center has been a place where generations of Assumption students start and continue their fitness journeys. Whether you’re taking advantage of the modern equipment and amenities, or participating in a fitness class or joining an intramural team, the Plourde Recreation Center is the place to get involved.

Learn more about opportunities at the Plourde Recreation Center

Hours of Operation

Monday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hours are subject to change. Please call 508-767-7072 for information.

Equipment and Facilities
  • Cardio Equipment
    • Treadmills
    • Ellipticals
    • StairMasters
    • Expresso Fitness HD Upright Bikes
    • Adaptive Motion trainers
    • Recumbent Bikes
    • Ergometer (Rowing) Machines
  • Full selection of Life Fitness strength machines
  • Free Weight Room – all Life Fitness Products
    • Squat racks
    • Dual pulley machines
    • Bench press racks
    • Incline bench
    • Decline bench
    • Shoulder press
    • Leg press
    • Full set of dumbbells and barbells
    • Kettlebells
  • Multi-Purpose Room
    • Heavy bags
    • Speed bag
    • Full TRX System
  • Aerobics Room
    • Keiser M3 indoor spin bikes
    • Yoga mats and belts
  • Sauna in Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms
  • Indoor Track
  • 3 Full-Size Basketball Courts
  • Swimming Pool
Fitness Classes

Students can view a full list of fitness classes and register on the University’s IMLeagues page. Click here to learn more.

Sample Classes (List): 

Boxing

This class will push your physical boundaries and teach you another way of exercise. You will learn basic combinations and footwork that will incorporate the whole body. The class emphasizes cross-training and spills over into your everyday life. It will provide you with better mental and physical energy and strengthen your mind and body which can help to improve everyday life.

Pound

Sweat, sculpt and rock in this cardio jam session inspired by drumming. You won’t just listen to music as you do reps, you become the music in this exhilarating full-body workout that combines cardio, conditioning, and strength training with yoga and Pilates moves. Designed for all fitness levels, POUND provides the perfect atmosphere for letting loose, getting energized, toning up and rockin’ out! POUND will distract you from the intensity and duration of the workout by shifting your focus to rhythm and volume. A session of POUND has you completing more than 15,000 reps, over 50 extended interval peaks and rocked through more than 70 techniques. You won’t even realize it. Once you start – you can’t stay away.

Spin

Spin is a high-energy, low-impact class that will have you scorching calories and building cardiovascular endurance and strength. This energetic cardio workout is suitable for a wide variety of ages and fitness levels – you are able to control your own intensity while being motivated by energizing music, your teammates, and trainer. Prepare to get your blood pumping while you sweat like crazy, increase your energy, shed fat, build muscle, and want to come back for more!

Yoga

Two offerings, Slow Strength and Vinyasa. Slow Strength offers a focus on form and technique of poses with longer holds as well as emphasizing mental focus and breath awareness. Great for beginners or those who prefer a slower pace practice while still getting some strength work. Intermediate Vinyasa Flow is a bit faster pace, moving through more of a flow of poses. More challenging poses will be offered and progressions to basic poses introduced. Best for those who have practiced yoga before however all levels are welcome as modifications will be offered.

Zumba

Inspired by traditional cumbia, salsa, samba and merengue music with a little hip-hop thrown in, Zumba® is a combination of Latin rhythms and red-hot international dance steps. You’ll learn to love working out through dance with this upbeat and exciting class!

We are always evaluating and changing the courses offered. If you are a student and certified in a specific fitness discipline, please contact John LeDoux, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation (jf.ledoux@assumption.edu) as we are always interested in hiring students to teach our classes!

Learn to Swim Program

The Department of Recreation has offered American Red Cross Certified Swimming Lessons at the Plourde Recreation Center Pool each fall and each spring for almost 30 years. The Learn-to-Swim program offers a multi-level system, which will encompass a range of swimming instruction. Each level focuses on water safety education, safety skills, movement skills, and swimming skills. Lessons will run for a half-hour Saturday mornings during the fall and spring academic semesters.

In order to join the email list for the Learn to Swim Program, please email the Director of Recreation, Mike Rodier (mrodier@assumption.edu). Mike has been in contact with past registrants and if you have been receiving his emails there is nothing further you need to do. A pre-registration link will be emailed to the names on the list at noon on Wednesday, August 30 followed by in-person signups on Thursday, August 31st at 4:30pm in the Plourde.

Learn to Swim Levels

Designed to let parents and young children learn together to increase a child’s comfort level in the water and build a foundation of basic skills, such as arm and leg movements and breathing control, as well as having fun in the water.

Level A

  • Children 6 months to 2 years old, who have little or no previous water experiences
  • Replaces Infant & Pre-School Aquatic Program
  • Parent or caregiver must accompany child in the water
  • Children ready to learn without a parent/caregiver should enroll in an appropriate Learn-to-Swim class

Level B

  • Children 18 months up to 5 years of age who have:
    • Two or more previous sessions in the water
    • Been submerged only reluctantly (or not at all)
    • Require flotation support at all times
    • May benefit from parental presence in the water

Red Cross Learn-to-Swim features differing levels of instruction to help swimmers of all ages develop their skills.

  • Preschool II, III: Water Skills Orientation
  • Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
  • Level 3: Stroke Development
  • Level 4: Stroke Improvement
  • Level 5: Stroke Refinement
  • Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

For information please email Mike Rodier.

Learn to Swim FAQs

How much does it cost to sign my child up for the Learn to Swim Program at Assumption University?
The fee for signing up a child is $90 regardless of age. Payment is due at the time of signup up in cash or check made payable to Assumption University.

Is a discount offered for multiple children?
A discount is not offered.

What ages are allowed to sign up?
Any child who is 6 months of age or older by the first day of class for the new semester session may sign up. Classes are offered until the child reaches the age in which they can enroll in WSI or Lifeguarding classes.

When are sign ups typically held?
Signups for the fall session are typically held on the third Thursday of August from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Plourde Recreation Center.
Signups for the Spring Sessions are typically held on the Thursday of Martin Luther King, Jr. week from 4:40 to 6 p.m. in the Plourde Recreation Center.

Must I attend signups in person or can I register online?
Our sign up process is a three-part process and parents/guardians must participate in both to sign their swimmer up for lessons.
First, you must be on the email list and this is completed by emailing Mike Rodier and requesting to be added.  Second, the day before in-person registrations a  pre-registration link is emailed out to all on the email lsit.  Using the link provided you then select and secure spots for your swimmers.  ONLY those who receive a confirmation email with their selected spots can register.  We do this because the program traditionally sells out and we do not want to have parents/guardians wait in line to be told there are spots left. the last step is to attend in-person registrations to choose your swimmers time slot and to complete the registration form and pay.

We require all signups to be completed in person  to ensure your child is signed up in the correct class based on their ability.  Swimming is a life skill and the safety and comfort of all children is a concern and having a child in a level that they are not ready for could put that in an unsafe position and also cause them to not want to participate and learn the skills we are teaching.

When do the sessions run?
Sessions run during the fall and spring Assumption Academic Semesters.  Weeks may be skipped for holidays and major school events.  The schedule may or may not take into account primary school calendars and the school vacation weeks.

What times are classes?
Parent and Child Aquatics are offered from 9:30 to 10 a.m.  Every other level is offered based on need starting each half-hour from 10 a.m. to noon.  Generally, all skill levels are offered each half an hour in an effort to make the session sign-ups as convenient as possible for our families!

Are there any weekday classes?
Assumption University does not offer weekday Learn to Swim Classes.

Does Assumption University offer individualized classes?
Assumption does not offer the Red Cross certified classes on an individual basis.

Do you have to be a member of the Assumption Community to sign up?
No, we welcome all members of Worcester County.

How do I know what level my child should be placed in?
During signups, we ask the guardian signing up the child many questions about the child’s familiarity with water and the pool.  Using these answers and our extensive history running the program we make sure the child is placed in the correct level for his or her own age, ability level, and safety.  During the first week if we realize a child is in the wrong group then we can make adjustments.

Who teaches my children?
Our Director of Aquatics runs the Learn to Swim Program and she has almost 20 years in this role.  The individual instructors are Assumption University students who have completed the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor training and hold a valid certification.

What are my responsibilities if my child is enrolled in the Parent & Child Aquatics?
For Parent and Child Aquatics, a parent, family member or guardian over the age of 18 is required to be in the pool with the child at all times.  This class is about water safety and getting used to the water. Your presence in the water makes the child feel more secure in this new environment.

What are my responsibilities if my child is enrolled in any of the other sessions?
In all sessions other than Parent and Child Aquatics, there are instructors in the water who will work with your child.  We ask that you either remain on the pool deck or stand in the lobby watching the pool at all times.  Swimming lessons are not an activity that a child can be dropped off at and picked up from.  Our instructors are certified and properly trained, but in case of an emergency, the parent must be present as well.

Are there facilities to change in prior to and after class?
Yes, the locker room facilities are available for patrons to utilize both before and after lessons.  We will have signage posted alerting you to which facilities are available on each Saturday.  We ask that all changes be done in these locker rooms and not in the main lobby. 

What equipment does my child need?
Children in the Parent and Child Aquatics class are required to have a swim diaper on at all times.
All children are asked to wear a bathing suit or other proper athletic attire for the pool.  Sweatpants, sweatshirts, jeans and other similar items are not permitted.
Swim caps, ear plugs, nose plugs or other similar swim accessories are allowed but are left up to the discretion of the parents and the child in the class.

How will weather cancellations be communicated?
Weather cancellations are communicated through the email address provided upon signup.  Notifications will be made by 8 a.m. on the Saturday morning of your class.

Where do I park for this event?
Parking for most Saturdays will be in the Plourde Center parking lot.  Any changes in the parking situation will be emailed out to all participants ahead of that particular day.

Membership (For Non-Students)

Membership for undergraduate and graduate students is included in tuition. The Campus Recreation Office offers Plourde Recreation memberships for the year or by the semester. The following types of Plourde Recreation Center memberships are available:

  • Alumni & Spouse
  • Faculty, Staff and Administration Spouse
  • Continuing Education Students
  • WISE
  • Part-time Students

Membership Pricing

1st Semester (Sept. to Dec.), $130           

1st & 2nd Semester (Sept. to May), $270

2nd Semester (Jan. to May), $140

2nd Semester and Summer, $230

Summer (May to Aug.), $90

Annual (Sept. to Aug.), $360

Become a Member or Renew Your Membership

Rent or Reserve the Plourde

The Plourde Recreation Center and its facilities are available for both student groups and outside members of the University to rent for events.  If you would like more information, please contact the Director of Recreation, Mike Rodier at 508-767-7073.

Rules and Regulations

Members may bring one guest per day for a $5 fee (contact Mike Rodier mrodier@assumption.edu for more information). Priority facility use is for Assumption University students, faculty, and staff. Know and follow all rules, including proper footwear and court use policies. Report damages promptly, and keep personal items out of activity areas. Ineligible members cannot participate in certain programs. Thank you for contributing to a positive environment at the Plourde Recreation Center.

See all Member Rules

  1. Members of the Center may bring one guest per day for a $5.00 fee. Members must fill out a guest registration form at the control desk and the guest must sign the waiver.
  2. The first priority for use and scheduling of the Plourde Recreation Center will be Intramurals and Open Recreation for Assumption University students, administrators, faculty and staff.
  3. All members will be responsible for knowing and adhering to all rules and regulations pertaining to the Plourde Recreation Center.
  4. Men’s and women’s shower and locker facilities are available on a daily basis. No locks may be left overnight.
  5. Workout footwear- all members must carry their workout footwear into the facility and change into them prior to workout.
  6. Proper athletic shoes or sneakers are required. No black-soled shoes are permitted on playing surfaces, except court shoes equipped with non-marking soles.
  7. Participants are responsible for any damage to the facility. All damages must be reported immediately to the building supervisor.
  8. Personal articles may not be kept in activity areas or hallways.
  9. Lost and found items can be claimed and/or turned in at the Campus Recreation Office.