FIT: Fitness and Individual Development at Tufts
FIT (Fitness and Individual Development at Tufts) is a pre-orientation program for students interested in leading a healthy and active lifestyle while at Tufts.
About
Incoming Tufts students have proven they are academically FIT to be a Jumbo; likewise, we believe Jumbo Health is just as important. The program introduces students to the Tufts community through holistic wellness, nutrition, and activities. Students are taught how to include healthy behaviors and learn about self-care, wellness, and stress reduction. FIT provides the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with other first-year students and upper-class student peer leaders.
FIT students are placed with 10 other first-years and 2-3 upper-class student peer leaders. The leaders were first years just like you and will help guide you in your transition to life as a Jumbo. Participants in FIT develop strong relationships with other first-year students and their peer leaders. These friendships have been known to last all four years.
FIT is supported by two Tufts staff members who have years of experience in college health and support Tufts students’ health year-round.
Fitness
Over the course of the program, students will learn how to live an active lifestyle at Tufts. During the program, they will get the opportunity to participate in fun Jumbo Workouts like kickball, ultimate frisbee, swimming, spin classes, yard games, hip-hop dance, and many more. Additionally, they will participate in outdoor activities off-campus like sailing, golf, hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
Health/Wellness
Throughout the program, students will be introduced to the mental health resources and support systems available at Tufts. FIT also teaches students about proper nutrition, sleep, and stress management at college. Moreover, they will receive a tour of the fitness center and the fitness amenities available to Tufts students, along with information about how to get involved with activities on campus, such as club and intramurals sports.
Adjusting to Campus
FIT program primarily takes place at Tufts and students will get the opportunity to find their way around campus before Orientation. They will have a few days to adjust to campus life before the rest of the rest of student body arrives. However, FIT isn’t just all on-campus! Participants also get the chance to explore the city and surrounding areas of Boston. FIT groups take an afternoon field trip to areas like Davis, Cambridge, or Downtown Boston. You will learn how to navigate the T (Boston’s subway system) and about the best places to hang off-campus.
FIT is built for anyone! You do not have to be athletic or super “fit” to participate in FIT! While participants certainly will have the opportunity to engage in athletic and fitness activities, the program is open to anyone who generally likes to be active. FIT offers a wide variety of options for everyone, regardless of your athletic experience or fitness background.
We encourage everyone to sign up for FIT and follow us on Instagram @Tufts_FIT! We can’t wait to meet you in the fall!
Typical Day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | Breakfast in Carmichael Hall |
| 9 a.m. | Hear from Tufts faculty about life at Tufts |
| 10 a.m. | Jumbo workout: Choose from various activities like spinning, swimming, and hip-hop dance |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch with your peers and leaders |
| 1 p.m. | Outdoor adventure: Get off campus to (for instance) hike, golf, or kayak |
| 5 p.m. | Dinner and good conversation |
| 7 p.m. | Group activities like bowling in Davis Square or exploring Boston |
Staff
Alexa Erb (she/her/hers)
Associate Director of Campus Life - Student Engagement
I have been working at Tufts since July 2022. As Associate Director for Student Engagement I oversee the over all student organization system including management of JumboLife, the Tufts student engagement platform. My work with JumboLife includes registration, communications and data analysis. I am also responsible for student organization training and development opportunities. I support our 300+ student organizations and their events, and directly advise all publication organizations. I serve as a direct OCL liaison to the GSC, Graduate Student Council, SMFA Student Life and SMFA student organizations. I supervise the Assistant Director of Campus Life-Programming and serve as the director in his absence. Please stop by to say hello!
Richard J. DeCapua, EdD
Senior Associate Dean of Students and Deputy Chief Student Life Officer for AS&E
As the Senior Associate Dean of Students, Rich is responsible for ensuring that programs and services are adding to the success of students in and outside of the classroom. From Orientation to Housing, to Health Promotion and Campus Life, Rich leads efforts to create a safe, welcoming, and educational environment for all students. He leads the day-to-day operations of the division of student life, and collaborates with several campus partners, ranging from Athletics and TUPD, to envision programs that result in student success.
Dani Monroig
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Dani Monroig (she/her, Class of 2028) is a sophomore at Tufts University originally from Madrid, Spain. She plans to major in International Relations and Economics, with a minor in Political Science, and is interested in diplomacy and civic engagement. On campus, she is involved with 180 Degrees Consulting, Amnesty International, and ALLIES, and previously participated in the Tufts Civic Semester in Thailand, which shaped her interest in community-based learning and student support.
Liv Kronenfeld
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Liv (she/her, Class of 2028) is a sophomore from Newton, MA, studying Psychology, Economics, and Dance. She is President of the Inter-Greek Council, a member of Chi Omega, and involved in Hillel.
Arya Gupta
Pre-Orientation Coordinator
Arya (she/her, Class of 2027) is from Bethesda, Maryland, studying Computer Science and Quantitative Economics. She is on the varsity Swim and Dive team, a member of Athletes of Color, and the Hidden Opponent. Her favorite course this year is Painting a Week. Arya loves FIT because it creates amazing memories and friendships that last throughout FITers' college experience.
Contact Us
FIT
fit@tufts.edu | @tufts_fit
FIT gave me the head start I needed to have a great first year at Tufts. Aside from meeting some of my closest friends, it gave me the confidence to explore and try new activities on campus, and make the most of my college experience!
Ryan Fischer, Class of 2029
I did FIT as a freshman, and because of my positive experience I am returning as a FIT peer leader for the second year in a row. Year after year, FIT has allowed me to make long lasting connections with a variety of people, even those who I would probably not have interacted with otherwise. Whether it was meeting my best friends for life, or new friends to smile at while walking across campus, FIT continues to cultivate a comfortable and friendly environment to stay active and put the best versions of ourselves forward. I'm excited to participate in the fun activities planned, to widen my social network, and be a comfortable source for guidance and advice for incoming freshmen.
Yasmeen Munoz, Class of 2028
I liked that we did peer bonding with different activities throughout the day. It helped me get out of my comfort zone coming to college. Pre-O helped me connect with others when having a conversation with them, in the future. It was fun being a new version of you, going out of your comfort zone.