Policies and Guidelines

Table of Contents

• Suspension Policy
• Animal Policy
• Membership Policies
  • Eligibility
  • Guest Passes
  • Purchasing a Membership
  • Departmental and Group Memberships
  • Membership Forms
  • Membership Benefits
  • Child Access
  • Membership End Dates
  • Adjustments, Cancellations, and Refunds
  • Parking 

Suspension Policy

University Well-Being and Recreation reserves the right to suspend any member found in violation of any University Well-Being and Recreation policy and procedures as well as the OHIO Student Code of Conduct.

Suspension includes:

• Removal of facility access to all facilities including the Aquatic Center, Bird Ice Arena, Golf and Tennis Center, Driving Range, Ping Recreation Center, and Walter Fieldhouse
• Inability to register for programs including Well-being and Fitness, Certifications, Outdoor Pursuits, and Intramural Sports

Animal Policy

Ohio University policy 44.120 describes the limitations relative to animals and animal pets in Ohio University-owned buildings, outside areas, and vehicles. For more information, please review the Office for University Accessibility's complete list of regulations as it relates to service dogs, assistance animals and more on University property.

Service Dogs in Training (4 Paws)

By the Ohio Revised Code 955.43 and 955.011, service animals in training are given the same status as fully trained service animals and are permitted by law to be in the same places and locations as fully trained service animals.

At Ohio University, service dogs in training (SDiTs) are most commonly associated with the organization, 4 Paws for Ability. Members of this organization are aware of their rights under the Ohio Revised Code. Please visit the organization's BobcatConnect page for updated contact information for their leadership. Please note that just because most SDiTs on campus are associated with this organization does not mean all are.

University Well-Being and Recreation Facility Policies

• Charles J. Ping Recreation Center
• Walter Fieldhouse

Membership Policies

The following policies were established to define the guidelines and access related to Well-Being & Recreation memberships. Please contact the Member Services desk at 740.593.9901 or CampusRec-Memberships@ohio.edu for additional information.

Eligibility

OHIO Student: Any student currently enrolled at Ohio University (Athens Campus) with a valid OHIO ID card who is assessed the tuition general fees covering recreational membership.

Non-Assessed OHIO Student: Any student currently enrolled in online, E-Learning, regional OHIO campuses or OHIO students that were enrolled in the previous semester at the Athens Campus or will be enrolled in the next sequential semester are eligible to purchase a membership to University Well-Being and Recreation facilities. Non-Assessed OHIO Students must present a valid OHIO student ID.

Faculty/Staff: Any current full or part-time employee of Ohio University at the Athens Campus is eligible to purchase a membership to the University Well-Being and Recreation facilities. Faculty/Staff must present a valid faculty/staff Ohio University ID card.

Emeritus/Retiree: Any former Ohio University employee having been honored with emeritus status or officially designated as a retired employee is eligible to purchase a faculty/staff membership to the University Well-Being and Recreation facilities. Emeritus/Retiree individuals must present a valid retiree Ohio University ID card.

Alumni: Any person who has graduated from Ohio University is eligible to purchase an adult membership to the University Well-Being and Recreation facilities. Recent OHIO graduates are eligible for one semester at the Non-Assessed OHIO Student rate immediately following their graduating semester.

Adults: Any individual 18 and older to include community members, Alumni of Ohio University, spouses and domestic partners of OHIO students and faculty/staff/retirees.

Teens: Any minor between the ages of 14-17 that will be participating independently. Membership forms must be signed by a parent/guardian prior to participation. 

Child: Any minor between the ages of 5-13 of a current member. Child access policies apply. Visit the child access section for facility child access policies. 

60+ Program Participants: Any individual age 60+ registered with the 60+ Program on the Athens Campus, either for credit or not for credit. Those taking classes for credit can expect the same benefits as OHIO Students. Those taking classes not for credit will need to be verified with the OHIO registrar’s office before they are eligible to purchase an OHIO Student membership.

Guest Passes

• Individuals may purchase a guest pass at any of our facilities. Guest passes include: daily passes at the Aquatic Center, Ping Center, greens fees and court fees at the Golf & Tennis Center, and Rec and Freestyle Skate passes at Bird Ice Arena.
• There are no discounts on guest passes, however, some facilities might observe special rates for events and affiliates.
• Daily passes are valid until close-of-business the date the pass was purchased, i.e. a day pass purchased at Ping Recreation Center at 10pm is valid until the facility closes the same day.
• Greens fees at the golf course are valid for the quantity of holes purchased (9 or 18 holes).
• Tennis court fees are valid for one hour of play.
• Rec Skate fees are valid for 1 Rec Skate session, and Freestyle Skate fees are valid for a 15 minute Freestyle session.

Purchasing a Membership

• Visit the University Well-Being and Recreation Member Service desk, located at the back of the Ping Recreation Center control desk during operational hours (hours may vary depending on holidays/breaks/maintenance). Golf and Tennis Center memberships may be purchased at the Golf Course Club House. 
• Purchase over the phone by calling 740.593.9901.
• Purchase online at RecShop. *this option is only available to OHIO students, faculty, staff and returning members.
• Payments can be made in check, credit/debit cards and bank deduction. Bank deduction must be processed in person. The first month’s payment must be made at the time of purchase. If you purchase a membership between the 1st and 15th of the month, your payments will begin the following month. If you purchase a membership between the 15th and 31st of the month, your payments will skip the next month and begin the month following the previous month. Monthly debit requires a one-year commitment before cancellation.
• University Well-Being and Recreation membership and daily fees will be reviewed and subject to change annually.

Departmental and Group Memberships

University Well-Being and Recreation happily accepts visiting groups to each of our facilities. For additional information regarding group membership rates, please call 740.593.9942 or email CampusRec-Memberships@ohio.edu.

Assumption of Risk

• All University Well-Being and Recreation members must sign an Assumption of Risk before utilizing their membership at any University Well-Being and Recreation facility
• Assumption of Risk is signed at the time of purchase by the participant
• Participants under the age of 18 must have an Assumption of Risk signed by a legal parent or guardian
• Each member’s Assumption of Risk is kept on file through its date of destruction and must not be removed or destroyed before that time
• Assumptions of Risk must not be edited or forged by any participant or any employee of University Well-Being and Recreation under any circumstances
• Should an Assumption of Risk be edited or forged, it is considered immediately invalid and will require the member to resign before continuing to participate with University Well-Being and Recreation
• Assumptions of Risk cannot be adjusted to fulfill requirements for a renewed membership
• All members wishing to renew their membership, regardless of duration, will be required to sign an Assumption of risk annually
• Failure to follow these policies will result in membership termination

Membership Benefits

The following items are included in your University Well-Being and Recreation facility membership:

Aquatic Center

• Full access to lap swim and recreational swim hours (hours may vary depending on special events/holidays/breaks/maintenance)
• Access to the Aquatic Center locker room amenities and daily lockers

Bird Ice Arena: Rec Skate and Freestyle Skate Multi-Visit Pass

• Rec Skate: Includes Rec Skate admission fee. Skate rental not included
• Freestyle Skate: Includes Freestyle admission fee, smaller ice capacity, and program music over the rink audio system

Charles J. Ping Recreation Center

• Members receive unlimited access 7 days per week during operational hours (hours may vary depending on special events, holidays, maintenance, and weather)
• Access to rental equipment, locker rooms and free day use lockers
• Semester and annual lockers for an additional fee

Golf Course

• Annual members receive unlimited rounds of 9/18-hole golf 7 days per week during operational hours (hours may vary depending on special events, holidays, maintenance, and weather)
• Access to rental clubs and golf carts at an additional fee
• Special rates on applicable golf programs throughout the year for annual members
• Free bucket of balls at the Ohio University driving range for annual members

Tennis Center

• Members receive unlimited heated indoor court and outdoor tennis court access 7 days per week during operational hours, pending availability (hours may vary depending on special events, holidays, maintenance, and weather)
• Access to rent tennis racquets
• Special rates on applicable tennis programs throughout the year

Child Access

Aquatic Center

• Non-swimming children and children under the age of 6 must be within arm’s reach of an adult (18 years of age or older) in swimming attire in the pool.
• Children under the age of 11 must be directly supervised by an adult (18 years of age or older) in the facility.
• Children over the age of 5 are not permitted in opposite gender bathrooms. Family locker rooms are provided on the pool deck.
• Children that are not toilet-trained must wear a swim diaper. Diaper changing is restricted to locker rooms.
• Only swim aids that are US Coast Guard approved are permitted. Non-life vest wearing adults must be within arm’s reach of the children wearing aids.
• The Lifeguard staff reserve the right to have any child demonstrate their swimming abilities before using the facility unsupervised or the deep end of the pool. Testing includes swimming unassisted one length of the pool with change in direction to be evaluated by Aquatic Center staff.
• Infants may not be left unattended and strollers are not permitted on the pool deck.
• All children participating in Rec Swim must purchase a day pass or membership to use the Aquatic Center.

Bird Ice Arena: Rec Skate

• Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied and monitored by an adult (18 years of age or older) while in the facility at all times.
• Children must wear ice skates on the ice and may not be carried while on the ice.
• Helmets are available for free but are not required. Children’s attire (including head wear) should be free of metal, plastic or any hard surface to prevent injury upon possible fall or collision.
• All participants may not wear headphones while on the ice.
• All children that are participating in Rec Skate must purchase a Rec Skate pass.

Charles J. Ping Recreation Center

• Children age 0-4 are not permitted in any areas of the Ping Center except the Business Office or on facility tour.
• Children ages 5-13 are permitted in the facility with adult supervision during operational hours. Children ages 5-13 are not permitted on any fitness equipment or in the Functional Fitness Room, Weight Room, cardio areas, or group fitness/F45 classes.
  • Children ages 5-13 are permitted to use the climbing wall during operational hours. 
• Children ages 14-17 are permitted in the facility without adult supervision during operational hours and are permitted on exercise equipment and in group fitness/F45 classes.
• All children that are participating must purchase a day pass or membership to use the Ping Center. Additional programming fees also apply- including F45 and personal training. 

Golf Course

• Children under the age of 6 are not permitted on the golf course at any time.
• Children ages 6 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult while on the golf course.
• Players must be 18 years or older to rent a golf cart. Players must be 16 years or older to operate a golf cart and must present a valid driver’s license to the front desk before beginning.
• Children over the age of 5 are not permitted in opposite gender bathrooms
• All children that are participating must pay greens fees or purchase a membership to use the golf course.

Tennis Center

• Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult while on the indoor and outdoor tennis courts.
• Strollers and carriers are not permitted on the indoor or outdoor courts.
• Children over the age of 5 are not permitted in opposite gender bathrooms
• All children that are participating must purchase a court fee or membership to use the indoor and outdoor tennis courts.

Walter Fieldhouse

• Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while in the facility.
• All children that are participating must purchase a day pass to use Walter Fieldhouse.

Currently enrolled OHIO Students under the age of 18 will be treated as adults in all University Well-Being & Recreation facilities. 

Membership End Dates

Monthly: Monthly memberships end 30 days after purchase date. Example: 1 month membership purchased on May 5th will expire after June 3rd.

Multi-Visit: Multi-visit memberships expire 365 days after purchase date.

Semester: Semester memberships end the Sunday before the start of each new semester.

Annual: Annual memberships end one calendar year from the date purchased. Ongoing Monthly Debit: one-year commitment, then cancel any time.

OHIO Student Access

*Dependent on OHIO Housing and Residence Life move-in calendar

Cancellations and Refunds

• All membership and guest pass sales are non-transferable and non-refundable.
• Days lost due to special events, holidays, maintenance, and weather will not be added back to your membership.
• Lack of participation will not result in a refund or extension.
• Memberships may be placed on hold due to medical leave. Please contact CampusRec-Memberships@ohio.edu or 740.593.9901 with your request no later than two weeks following incident.
• Employees terminated from the University will be asked to pay the difference for an adult membership rate at the same facility for the same duration as their current membership if they would like to keep participating or be refunded a prorated membership fee.
• Members who move greater than 15 miles from the Ohio University Athens Campus during their membership are eligible to receive a prorated refund for their remaining membership.
• Ongoing monthly debit members agree to pay one year before cancellation.

Parking

• University Well-Being and Recreation does not validate parking.
• Parking passes for the Golf & Tennis Center are provided on a first come first serve basis and are only good after purchase of a membership or guest pass. Parking passes are only valid in lots 87 and 93 on campus.
• Some parking lots are not valid for student parking permits. Please check the parking services map to ensure your pass is valid in the designated lots. Metered parking spots are available near many of our facilities.
• Visiting groups are encouraged to speak with their coordinating professional staff for parking permits.
• Please visit our Transportation and Parking site for parking maps, special event parking and additional parking pass information.