Penn State Overhauls Access to Campus Recreation Buildings

Access to Penn State campus recreation facilities at Rec Hall, McCoy Natatorium, IM Building and White Building will be further restricted this fall, and for community members who are not university students, faculty or staff — or married to one — the spaces will be mostly off-limits.

Following up on a preliminary announcement of changes to access for its campus recreation facilities in March, Penn State unveiled a further overhaul that offers a very limited number of annual passes for non-Penn State community members to use the buildings.

The new membership program will offer limited, first-come, first-served community memberships available only to dues-paying members of the Penn State Alumni Association. Campus Recreation will sell 200 community memberships at an annual cost of $500 each to eligible individuals.

An active membership will be required for anyone to use campus recreation buildings, even if they aren’t using the fitness centers. In the past individuals could, for example, walk the indoor tracks or use open basketball and racquetball courts. 

Use of fitness centers had already required a membership. In March, Penn State rolled out a new plan that allowed community members to get free, temporary day passes to use the open areas of the facilities. Now, however, users must swipe a Penn State ID or membership card to enter and will then have access to the fitness centers and other areas.

A university news release said that future use of Rec Hall is being evaluated ‘and any changes will be determined within the next few months.’ Until then, a membership will be required.

As previously announced, no one under the age of 18 will be permitted unless they are a fully enrolled Penn State student or attending an approved program such as lessons or sports camps.

Faculty, staff and students will be able to purchase memberships for their spouses or partners at a cost of $95 per semester os $230 annually (including summer access). 

For faculty, staff and retirees, membership will cost $50 per month, $95 per semester or $230 annually.

Students will see a significant change for the better, no longer needing to purchase a fitness center membership to use the facilities. Membership for full- and part-time students is included in the newly instituted Student Initiated Fee, a combination of the previous activities fee and facilities fee.

With the new membership structure, patrons will be able to access the fitness centers at White Building, IM Building and Rec Hall, open areas of those buildings, most fitness classes and the McCoy Natatorium and outdoor pool.

“Changing the way we structure memberships will ensure that we are able to offer the best recreational experience to our students and the campus community,” said Josh Davis, assistant director of Campus Recreation for membership services and outreach. “We have the opportunity to really enhance our offerings while also making our facilities safer and more welcoming by introducing practices that have been standard at many of our peer institutions for years.”

The university says that the changes to access will allow it to better monitor traffic in and out of the buildings, keeping them safe and in compliance with Penn State policies.

The Freeh Report, commissioned in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, included among its recommendations tightening security and limiting access at campus recreational facilities.