University Recreation will increase membership rates for faculty, staff and alumni effective July 9 to support expanded services and hours now offered in two fitness center locations on the University of Arkansas campus. 

In March, the department of University Recreation opened a new 11,700-square-foot fitness center in the Arkansas Union. This additional space features a 6,000-square-foot fitness center, 1,500- square-foot multi-purpose room, state-of-art equipment and locker and shower facilities. A UREC membership will allow access to the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building and to the UREC Fitness Center in the Arkansas Union.

A membership rate increase is necessary to keep up with the cost of inflation and to help cover the daily operating cost for maintaining the HPER and the new University Recreation Fitness Center.

The last membership rate increase took place in 2006.

“The increase in membership rates is necessary to sustain the quality of equipment and facilities we strive to provide the university community,” said Jeremy Battjes, director of University Recreation.

A UREC membership gives access to the HPER Building and the UREC Fitness Center. Facilities include the Donna Axum Fitness Center in the HPER, an Olympic-size swimming pool, racquetball courts, four basketball courts, an indoor track, the Outdoor Connection Center, a climbing wall, group exercise classes, personal training opportunities, locker and shower facilities along with the option to rent spaces including the UREC Sports Complex (formerly known as the intramural fields).

For faculty and staff, a membership may be purchased for $75 per semester (fall/spring/summer) or $202.50 for one year. Based on the annual rate, the monthly fee will be $16.88. Faculty and staff may add family members for $40 per semester or $108 per year. An annual membership that includes a staff or faculty member and their family is $25.88 per month. This is the first time that a discount has been given to family members. Faculty and staff also have the option to purchase a membership via payroll deduction with up to five payments per year.

“It is our goal is to meet our members needs and wants,” said Battjes. “This increase will also allow us to continue to offer group exercise classes to faculty and staff at no charge, to be open on selected holidays and stay open more than 350 days a year.”

Alumni may purchase a membership for $125 per semester or $337.50 for the year. Based on the annual rate, the average monthly fee for alumni members will be $28.13. Alumni members may add family members for $55 per semester or $148.50 per year, making a monthly membership for an alumni member and their family total $40.50.

Lockers will also be available for purchase each semester. The locker fee will include towel service at the new UREC Fitness Center.

Memberships purchased for one year receive a 10-percent discount.

Student memberships for both the HPER and the UREC Fitness Center are included in tuition.

Rates still remain among the lowest of Southeastern Conference peer institutions. The average annual membership price of the SEC schools is $329.

A survey conducted in fall 2011 showed that UREC members want the HPER Building open before 6 a.m. The rate increase will allow for lengthened operation hours, with the HPER building opening at 5:30 a.m Monday through Friday beginning in August.

For questions, please contact Linda Fricke at lfricke@uark.edu or 479-575-6381 or Lindsay Smith at ltlarso@uark.edu or 479-575-2662.