New student program to help expand and improve on-campus fitness options

Exterior of Veale Center CWRU
The Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center

As part of Case Western Reserve’s overall wellness initiative, the university and 121 Fitness Center will launch a new Student Enhanced Fitness Program this fall. The program will expand hours, enhance access to fitness instructors and trainers, and improve both the equipment and facilities available to members of the campus community.

A key element of the program involves dramatic expansion of the hours of operation of the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center, a concern that students have cited for several years running. Beginning this fall, Veale and 121 Fitness are projected to be open 5:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The hours will be subject to change based on usage and the academic calendar. The new Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center, an additional fitness facility on the north side of campus that is planned to open in October, is expected to follow the same schedule.

Veale also will see equipment upgrades in its cardio fitness and weight rooms, as well as expanded hours at Donnell Pool. In addition, university community members also will have access to personal training (at an additional fee) from 121 Fitness staff at Veale Center and Wyant Center. The university also will designate Veale’s multipurpose aerobics room—Classroom 104—for increased group training in activities such as TRX, kettlebell and other programs.

Meanwhile, the Wyant Center will feature the DiGeronimo Family Fitness Center, which will contain cardio equipment and select machine weights and dumbbells; the Steve Belichick Weight Room; and the DiSanto Varsity Club, a space for study sessions, meetings and alumni gatherings. All students will have equal access to the Wyant Center’s study space and fitness room, with access to the weight room dependent on varsity athletics schedules.

121 Fitness entrance
121 Fitness Center

Finally, graduate and professional students will receive discounted memberships (26 percent off the regular fee of $39, or $29 per month, and no initiation fee) to 121 Fitness Center, the public fitness center on Adelbert Road that the university owns and operates. With fall 2014 registration, the fee will be included in graduate and professional students’ university charges in the fall and spring semesters unless they choose to opt out through the online Student Information System. The opt-out option is expected to close at the end of the drop/add period for fall 2014, which is set for Sept. 5. Undergraduate students are not included in the opt-out program.

The other major program change involving the fitness initiative is 121’s new management of the cardio room, weight rooms, group exercise classroom and the Donnell Pool within Veale Center. 121 also will manage the DiGeronimo Family Fitness Center within the Wyant Center when it opens. The rest of both facilities’ spaces will be managed as they have been in the past, through the athletics department. The realignment of responsibilities will allow athletics faculty and staff to focus more directly on physical education, intercollegiate athletics, intramurals, club sports and campus recreation.

After hearing requests for extended hours and an opt-out option from the Graduate Student Senate and Undergraduate Student Government, the Office of Campus Services, the Division of Student Affairs, the Department of Physical Education and Athletics, and 121 Fitness collaborated to launch the new program.

“The new enhanced fitness program will significantly improve the quality, convenience, and accessibility of fitness facilities on campus,” said Richard Jamieson, vice president of campus services. “The collaboration between 121 Fitness Center and CWRU athletics is a creative way of integrating distinct university assets to improve the overall level of services provided to the campus community.”

Added Vice President for Student Affairs Lou Stark, “Partnering with 121 Fitness will definitely have a positive impact on both undergraduate and graduate student life as they will have access to state-of-the-art workout facilities.”