With a new school year in full swing, the Recreation and Wellness Center implemented policy changes including the removal of guest passes and a new model for intramural sports.

In previous years, each student received two guest passes per semester, allowing anyone accompanied by a student to enter the Rec Center. This year, guests must pay an entry fee of $10. 

“We looked at the amount of free guest passes that we sell in a given year, and it was a significant amount,”  Senior Assistant Director Jim Kraus said. “There are not a lot of other institutions that offer free guest passes for students, so we saw that as an opportunity for us.” 

Kraus also said about 300-350 free guest passes were used per month on average, leaving the opportunity for a potential gain of $3,000 per month that could go to other areas in the facility.  

“The hope with a free guest pass is that the guest tries everything out, and wants to get a membership,” Kraus said. “With students, chances are the guest is a family member or friend who is just in for the weekend, and the chances of them buying a membership are pretty slim.” 

As for intramural sports, in the past, each team was required to pay a team fee, but now it is more individual-based.

For a semester pass the player is charged $35 and $60 for an annual pass. An intramural pass must be purchased to participate in any intramural sports. 

“We are interested to see how this ebbs and flows,” Kraus said. “It being so early in the year, we just have to wait and see how impactful these policies are.”

Michael Bodzenta is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].