While back-to-school usually comes with images of waiting in long lines at the bookstore, prepping notes for classes and searching for classrooms, planning some valuable personal time should be just as high a priority as collecting required texts for courses.

Between busy class schedules and studying, students should take full advantage of their access to not only campus facilities, but to the recreational side offered through the power of their student number.

Current U of M students get free tickets — yes, free — to all Bisons games. The Bisons have gone digital with their tickets, so a Ticketmaster account is required. To get your free tickets, just go to the Bisons website, find the “Tickets” drop down menu and simply follow the prompts.

The student promo code for this year is UMSTUDENT23. Just plug that into the filter before purchasing your tickets and your cart will automatically record the ticket as $0. It is limited to one free ticket per student per game and do keep your student card handy at the gate just in case.

If you have friends who have recently graduated from the U of M and want to catch, say, a women’s soccer game at IG Field on a Friday night, there is also a U of M alumni promo code, which also gives alumni free tickets to all 2023-24 Bisons games. The alumni promo code is UMALUMNI23 and allows up to four tickets per game.

Tickets include all Bisons sports, from football to hockey to swimming and everything in between, so go cheer on your fellow student athletes: you may just be in the same classes as them.

Your student number also gives you the power to access sports and recreation facilities on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses.

The Sport and Rec fee that students pay in their tuition covers their access to multiple facilities — from Fort Garry campus’ Active Living Centre, boasting a 35-foot climbing wall, 200-metre running track and a plethora of free weights and training equipment, to the Joyce Fromson Pool that reopens Oct. 1 and even access to outdoor tennis courts operating through autumn.

On the Bannatyne campus, students have access to the Joe Doupe Recreation Centre, complete with a multi-purpose gymnasium and studio, indoor track, fitness centre and cycle studio.

For students who feel more comfortable exercising at home, the U of M continues to offer virtual options. The UM Home Workout offers students guided workouts from professional trainers, as well as tips for keeping healthy while working through the student grind.

Virtual workouts are available for every fitness level from intense kettlebell training sessions to the more chill — and equally as important — stretching techniques.

Remember, taking time for your own personal health can help you not only weather classes with better ease, but can build a community of fellow gym-goers or sports enthusiasts, even just to get out of the library or a dorm room for a few hours.

You’re already paying the Sport and Rec fee — you may as well make the most of money spent.

Welcome back to campus, Bisons.