NVC: An Unfair, Unjust $60 Fee to Many

As a veteran student, I've seen my fair share of changes at Northwest Vista College. I remember when a majority of my classes were held in the portables or back when classrooms were a shared space between disciplines. I also remember the small fitness space in Huisache Hall, old and needing a renovation, but an open facility for students no less. Well, the renovation came and Huisache Hall re-opened with a new workout facility. This brought a great deal of excitement for a student like me. Yet, my excitement only lasted until I realized I had to pay $60 just to use the facility!

Now, I am optimist individual. You know - a glass half full kind of person. So, I went to check out the facility for myself. Now, I have a question for those who manage the place: how are the 14,555+ students enrolled this semester going to use the limited amount of equipment, especially during your limited hours of operation?

For those students not enrolled in a fitness class, the equipment available to you includes 4 treadmills, 1 elliptical, 10 strength circuit stations, 2 leg press machines, and a few weight benches. Is this enough? The section of the fitness center enclosed and reserved for kinesiology courses has just as many machines and equipment, but this section is for classroom use only. So, I can pay less to use this space if I register for the credit hour in a fitness course. If I do so, I at least have a guarantee to use the equipment twice a week, at a time of my choosing.

Many students are upset about the fitness center's hours of operation. Why only from 8-5?

"I'd want to keep the gym open 16 hours a day, but I can't do it all by myself," says Daniel Johnson, student recreation and wellness coordinator. "We are in the process of hiring staff to keep the facility up and running longer. I'd like to have the hours from 6:30 am to 10 pm". Johnson and his staff are in the process of evaluating high traffic points throughout the day. He wants to hold various fitness events during times in the day that don't conflict when the fitness center is being most used.

Yet, the main concern and complaint students have expressed about the new fitness center is the additional non refundable $60 membership fee per semester. According to Northwest Vista College [NVC], the $60 fee is used to maintain, buy, and replace equipment. This fee is also utilized to pay for instructors to teach fitness sessions. Just like any good business, NVC makes this fee sound like it's the best deal you can get. As an incentive, this year the $60 fee includes both fall and spring. But next fall students must pay the $60 fee for each semester, a $120 fee for a whole academic year that excludes summer. Yes, there is another fee for summer. How is that fair?

Does this sound like Gold's Gym or Bally's Total Fitness? Aren't we enrolled in a community college?

What's with the new charge?

Our student activity fee already covers for students services on campus. The most recent service provided for students was transportation to and from the Sea World parking lot. Did we have to pay an additional fee for this service? No! Why should the gym be any different?

Vice President of Student Success, Diana Muniz says, "Our intent is not to make money. We looked at other community colleges across the country and compared their charges and cost of living to the students at Northwest Vista. We didn't just decide 'Hey, let's charge the students'. We needed funding to maintain the facility and went with the number we thought was fair."

Muniz goes on to say that the fee was for staff, purchasing new equipment, and health and safety: "Machines break. Who wants to pay for a fitness center that has broken equipment? We also have to take student safety into account. We have to cover the center with insurance, and be sure that the facility is properly sanitized to combat infections." She also points out that our sister community colleges within the ACCD district have a free and open gym, but only for an hour or two every day.

Most students, when asked about this additional fee, were annoyed. A random survey of 200 students finds that over 80% say they were outraged about having to pay for the fitness center. Erika Walter was adamantly upset, "When I went to SAC, we didn't have to pay for using the gym. There were open hours when there weren't any classes." Walter transferred to NVC because of her job and to save money. Student Ruben Ramirez says, "I took one of the physical fitness classes because the gym was still being built last semester. [I'm] already taking 18 hours this semester; I had no room to take it again. But, I might as well have." Ruben goes on to say that he has very limited time to work out and was planning on using the gym when he had time in the evenings. The only time he has available is after 5pm, when the gym is closed.

Faculty has expressed frustration about the fee as well. "I'm disappointed to hear about this added cost, especially for students. Several of my students have complained and expressed to me frustrations about this added cost for a service they believe entitled to already as part of student activities fees," says instructor Y. Issac Hinojosa. He goes on to say, "I love this campus and the community here at NVC because of its student success, student first, and student-centered philosophy. But I believe the powers that be got this one wrong. My hope is that students organize to fight this added cost for use of the fitness center."

Vinnie Bradford, chair of fine arts and kinesiology, was also bothered by the added cost to students: "I understand why the school is charging, but I think it is unfair. I think that all of us collectively would like to see it free." She also mentions that not just students, but faculty and staff were also being charged the fee. Bradford says, "The district doesn't provide enough funding for student activities. I would suggest to those students that are upset to attend the Nov. 16th town hall meeting held by the ACCD and ask for more funding."