While many of the services provided by the Campus Recreation Center are covered by student fees, others have to be paid for.

The Recreation Center’s budget cannot support all the expenses needed to plan and implement all the programs they provide, which include group fitness classes, nutrition services, personal training, intramural sports, outdoor rental gear and outdoor adventure trips, said Sandi Carlisle, director of the Recreation Center. Students who participate in these programs pay a fee to help support the costs of each program.

Rachel Tauber, freshman physical therapy major, said she thought the price of classes at the Recreation Center should just be added to the price of tuition. She said most things on campus, like football games, are free, so people expect classes to be free.

“At my gym back home classes are free,” Tauber said.

Carlisle said the Recreation Center does not receive any funds from athletic tuition fees. Those funds are dedicated to the Athletic Department to help support all athletic teams at the university. The Recreation Center receives funding for programs and services from the student activity fee, which is allocated by the Student Association (SA).

Carlisle said each year the Recreation Center presents a budget request to the SA, which then allocates funds for them. The Recreation Center also receives a portion of fees from another fund called bond fees. Those funds maintain and support building expenses like custodial work and utilities for the Recreation Center and Chick Evans Field House.

The funds from the SA help pay for all the expenses related to operations which include student personnel, equipment, supplies and other expenses necessary to implement all the programs and services. The center has six program areas which include aquatics, fitness & wellness, intramural sports, open recreation, outdoor adventures and sport clubs. Sport clubs has a separate budget.

Antoinette Thomas, freshman business marketing major, said she wanted to get involved with the programs offered at the Recreation Center but the fees made her a little less willing.