Students no longer have to wait an hour and a half in lines that wrap around the second floor of the UREC Student Recreation Center to sign up for a GroupX class.
The classes are now using a new phone system to allow students to sign up for GroupX classes, a plan devised by Lacee Breeden, UREC coordinator of healthy lifestyles.
Breeden said students can either call 578-8364 or drop by the equipment desk in person to sign up between 5:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. the day of the class.
Breeden said each class has a maximum capacity of participants and a wait list allowing up to five people. She said registered guests must arrive 10 minutes before the start of the class to secure their spots. During that time, wait listed individuals can take vacant spots.
Breeden said she wanted to make the new system as simple as possible for students.
 
“Your time is valuable, so this way makes it easier,” Breeden said.
Scott Belanger, UREC assistant director of marketing and promotions, said the GroupX program has outgrown the old system.
“We adjusted the system to accommodate the students,” Belanger said.
Breeden said the 2010-11 fiscal year saw 16,701 GroupX class participants. That number increased dramatically from the 2009-10 fiscal year, which saw 13,788.
Breeden said the increase may be attributed to a number of new improvements.
“We have new instructors, we have added classes and we are staying up to date with trends,” Breeden said.
Breeden said there has been an increase in the number of Zumba classes offered. Other classes this fall include Bar Sculpt, Step and Sculpt, Aqua-Piyo, Core Express and Cycle 40-20-10.
“It’s an evolving process,” Breeden said. “We are always looking for new ways to