Initially, the new building will be open only to students to see how much use it gets, said Zimmerman. A student oversight committee then will determine whether to open the facility to faculty, staff and alumni, who would be required to pay a use fee. Mesa State College students placed a similar use restriction when it opened its student recreation center in January 1996. Only students, faculty and staff were admitted to the center initially, but today, Mesa students now share the facility with student and employee spouses. Alumni and booster club members also have limited access.
Students pay a fee each semester to pay for the facility and use it for free.
All others pay an additional use fee. If Fort Lewis College students approve their proposed fee increase, planning on the new center will begin immediately. The planning committee will select an architect this spring and bonds will be issued this summer. Architects will work with student users and program directors next fall to develop schematic drawings based on the program plan. The drawings then will be used to develop construction and bid documents with ground-breaking expected in Summer 1999.