College is a great place to exercise your mind, but Mills offers a wealth of opportunities that give your body a workout, too. You can become a competitive intercollegiate student-athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or just enjoy some great recreation in the beautiful Bay Area. No matter which program you choose, our incredible educators will help you to extend beyond your limits and develop a passion for putting your body into motion.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation Department to assist Mills students to achieve excellence in their academic, athletic, and personal pursuits.

Physical activity is essential to human development and thus an integral component of a Mills College liberal arts education. In keeping with the mission of Mills College, we provide excellent instruction, a challenging and supportive learning environment, and offerings that fulfill the needs and interests of women and men.

As Mills College physical educators, coaches, and recreational specialists, we enrich the lives of women by providing rewarding experiences, knowledge, and skills that will motivate and enable women of all abilities to incorporate health and physical activities into their daily lives.

We strive to support our Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Programs equitably. All three programs are viewed as essential in a department that strives to serve the entire Mills community with its wide range of needs, abilities, and interests. The purpose of the athletics program is to provide undergraduate women with intercollegiate competition that places highest priority on the total development of the student-athlete. The purpose of the physical education program is to foster in Mills students a lifelong positive, healthy lifestyle by providing quality professional instruction in physical activities, fitness, health, and safety. The purpose of the recreation program is to provide students, faculty, staff, and alumnae with sports facilities, equipment, and programs that will enable them to participate in a wide variety of recreational activities.

We offer students the opportunity to balance their lives, take responsibility for their health and make educated health and fitness choices, learn about their bodies, challenge themselves physically, remove perceived barriers to their physicality, increase their self-esteem and self-confidence, grow beyond their self-perceptions, set goals, and compete with others to maximize their performance and the performance of their competitors.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Mills is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division III) and the Association of Division III Independents. Mills Cyclones compete in seven sports: cross country, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The only prerequisite is a desire to stretch yourself and to be part of an enthusiastic and supportive team.

Physical Education

With over 25 activity courses for credit per semester, more than half of the Mills student body enrolls in P.E. classes. These courses offer a great way to fit in a workout and get credit for doing it. They also help balance your academic load in a fun, healthy way.

Recreation

The recreation program offers a wide range of activities, including outdoor adventures, a multitude of campus-wide events, and off-campus excursions.