Recreation Services

Why Rec?

Recreation Services strives to create exceptional experiences in a respectful, welcoming, and fun environment while empowering the ISU community to enhance personal well-being. Members can utilize 100+ top notch recreational spaces, rent affordable outdoor equipment, participate in intramural sports and participate in a large variety of fitness classes. Also included are two bouldering walls, 40 foot top rope wall, three indoor tracks, and pool access. Pay by check, card, or payroll deduct*. Get the most out of your wellness journey with Iowa State Recreation Services!

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How can you purchase a membership?

Memberships will need to be purchased separately for Iowa State University employees (including retirees), non-enrolled students, and university affiliates.

Memberships can be purchased online with a credit card by following the steps outlined below: 

You can also purchase memberships in person by visiting our State Gym Administrative Office, Monday through Friday 8am – 5pm. State Gym is located at 2642 Union Drive on the ISU campus. In some cases, your ISU Card may need to be activated before you can purchase a membership, locker rental, or daily guest pass. Daily guest passes can be purchased at the State Gym or Lied Rec front desk.  

Current Students

Students are allowed Recreation Services facility and program access by the automatically assessed Activity, Services, Building & Recreation Fee*.

*In some instances, an enrolled student is not automatically assessed above mentioned Fee. To gain access to Recreation Services facilities and programs, those students will need to request to have the fee assessed by the Registrar’s Office.

Enrolled Students are NOT eligible to purchase membership directly from Recreation Services. All current students wanting membership must be assessed the Activity, Services, Building & Recreation Fee. 

Students are eligible to rent a locker at State, Lied, or Beyer. Please see locker rental rates below.

Employee Membership

FACULTY | STAFF* | RETIREES 

*Professional & Scientific Staff, Merit Staff  

New faculty and staff may be eligible for our complimentary 7 Day Trial Membership.

Current employees and retirees are eligible to purchase memberships directly from Recreation Services in-person or online. 

*Payroll deduction options available for annual memberships. Must come in person to process. Please note that payroll deduct plans are not eligible for cancellation with the annual membership.

NOTE: If an employee becomes an Enrolled Student, the student status overrides their employee status. In this instance, you would need to be assessed the Activity, Services, Building & Recreation Fee for your membership as outlined above. 

Membership Type Effective Dates Prices Available for Purchase
Day 1 Day $10 In-person or online
Week 1 week from date of purchase $30 In-person or online
Month 1 month from date or purchase $40 In-person or online
Annual (upfront) 12 months from date of purchase $350 In-person or online
Annual (month-to-month) 12 months from date of purchase $360 (12 payments of $30) In-person only

Affiliates

AFFILIATE* | ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | DEPENDENT (18 & Over) | SPOUSE | EMPLOYEE NON-ISU 

*post-doc, visiting scholar, third-party affiliate 

Affiliates are eligible to purchase memberships directly from Recreation Services in-person or online as long as their affiliation is current and active. Affiliates are required to purchase an ISU Card from the ISU Card Office for $15 and must renew that card every fiscal year they wish to maintain their affiliation. Alumni Association members must also maintain a current membership with the Alumni Association.  

Affiliate membership options are indicated below.

NOTE: If an affiliate becomes an Enrolled Student, the student status overrides their employee status. In this instance, you would need to be assessed the Activity, Services, Building & Recreation Fee for your membership as outlined above. 

Membership Type Effective Dates Prices Available for Purchase
Day 1 day $10 In-person or online
Week 1 week from date of purchase $30 In-person or online
Month 1 month from date of purchase $40 In-person or online
Annual (upfront) 12 months from date of purchase $403 In-person or online
Annual (month-to-month) 12 months from date of purchase 12 monthly payments of $33.60 In-person only

Non Enrolled Students

RECENT GRADUATES | PREVIOUSLY ENROLLED | INCOMING STUDENT

Non-Enrolled Students are either:

  • Those who were enrolled in and completed the previous semester but are not enrolled for the current academic semester
  • A new transfer or incoming student enrolled in the upcoming academic semester

This classification grants affiliation with the university and the ability to purchase a membership and locker rental for the months of the semester they are not officially enrolled. This affiliation is not available for consecutive academic semesters. 

Membership Type Effective Dates Prices Available for Purchase
Day 1 day $10 In-person or online
Week 1 week from date of purchase $30 In-person or online
Month 1 month from date of purchase $40 In-person or online
Semester Current semester $160 (fall or spring) / $80 (summer) In-person or online

Youth Membership

YOUTH (Ages 3-17)

Youth memberships must be purchased in-person at State Gym and be tied to an active Faculty/Staff Membership. Youth memberships are only allowed during family hours (see next section for family hour times).

NOTE: Youth Membership pricing is per child

Membership Type Effective Dates Prices Available for Purchase
Month 1 month from purchase $10 In-person only
Annual (upfront) 12 months from purchase $90 In-person only
Annual (month-to-month) 12 months from purchase 12 months payments of $7.50 In-person only

Locker Rental

Anyone with an active membership can add a locker in State Gym, Beyer Hall, or Lied Rec Center. Locker rental options are indicated below.
Day-use lockers are also available in common areas at each facility.

NOTE: Must have a valid membership to rent a locker. 
Padlocks on rented lockers are provided by Rec Services – personal locks are prohibited. 

Locker Type Effective Dates Prices Available for Purchase
Month 1 month from purchase $12 New lockers must be rented in-person. Locker renewals may be done in-person or online.
Annual 12 months from purchase $108 New lockers must be rented in-person. Locker renewals may be done in-person or online.

Family Hours

Those with a current membership, and are 18 years or older, have the ability to sponsor up to four dependent (under the age of 18) guests during Family Hours. Additional dependent guests are able to be sponsored if the member is also sponsoring in adult guests. The ratio of adults to dependent guests should not exceed 1:4.

Pricing is $2 per dependent guest, good for date of purchase only.

 

FAMILY HOURS: 

Fall & Spring Academic Semester: Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 6pm (with the exception of breaks and closures).

Academic Breaks and Summer Semester: All hours of operation 

  • A Parental Permission Agreement must be completed and signed by a dependent participant’s parent or legal guardian. No exceptions. 
  • Dependents must adhere to all Recreation Services age restrictions and guidelines indicated below. 
  • Dependents are only allowed in activity areas if they are participating in that activity and only during posted family hours. All age restrictions will apply for use of an activity area.
  • When in opposite-sex locker rooms, children five (5) years and younger must be changed and showered in one of the closed-door showers.  
  • Children six (6) years of age and older are not allowed in opposite-sex locker rooms. Family Changing rooms are available. If you have extenuating circumstances which prohibit you from adhering to this guideline, please ask to speak with the Facility Supervisor.
  • Participants of any age can use the Bouldering Walls, Climbing Walls (if harness fits properly), State Pool, Basketball Courts, Racquetball Courts, and Squash Courts as availability allows. If an area is closed, it will not be available during Family Hours.  
  • Sponsors are responsible for the conduct of their guest(s) and are subject to suspension/termination from facilities and programs if their guest(s) conduct warrants disciplinary action.
  • Refunds are at the discretion of Recreation Services staff and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Family Hours Age Restrictions: 

  • 5 years and under – must be directly supervised (participating in an activity with child & within reaching distance) by a parent, legal guardian, or their sponsor at ALL times 
  • 6 to 13 years old – must be indirectly (watching participants and in the same area) supervised at all times
  • 13 years and under – NOT permitted in the Cardio, Weight & Fitness areas, suspended running tracks, or Group Fitness Classes 
  • 14 to 15 years old – must be indirectly supervised (in the same area) at all times
  • 16 to 17 years old – sponsor must remain in the facility for the entirety of their visit and is available for direct supervision if necessary 

Sponsored Guests

A current member may sponsor up to four (4) adult guests per day by purchasing $10 per-person guest pass. Guests must have a valid ID at the time of purchase. The sponsor must remain in the facility with their guest during their visit. All sponsored guests must be 18 years of age or older unless visiting during Family Hours.  

ISU campus guests attending an ISU-sponsored conference or event may purchase a daily guest pass by presenting a valid photo ID and proof of conference or event attendance.  

Guest Guidelines:

  • Anyone eligible for a Recreation Services membership may purchase a one (1) day guest pass with their ISU Card without needing a sponsor. 
  • A daily guest pass may be used to gain access to all Recreation Services facilities, is non-transferable, and is valid until closing on the day it’s claimed. 
  • Guest(s) are not eligible to check out equipment, participate in Intramurals, or register for trips/workshops.  
  • Guest(s) are eligible to participate in a Group Fitness Class (if space allows) and utilize the Bouldering/Top Rope climbing walls.
  • Sponsors are responsible for the conduct of their guest(s) and are subject to suspension/termination from facilities and programs if their guest(s) conduct warrants disciplinary action. 
  • Refunds are up to the discretion of Recreation Services staff and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

A current member may sponsor up to four (4) dependent (under age of 18) guests during Family Hours for a $2 per-person Family Hours fee. Additional dependent guests may be sponsored if the member is also sponsoring adult guests. The ratio of adults to dependent guests is 1:4 with a maximum of 20 dependent guests and four (4) adult guests per current member sponsor.