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.  

Cardinal Membership

Faculty | Staff | Retirees | ISU Affiliates*

 
*ISU Affiliates include those issued a red ISU Card with the following eligibility: Affiliate, Post Doc, Visiting Faculty, Visiting Scholars, ISU Foundation, etc. 
 
Payroll deduct is available to Faculty and Staff under the annual membership and must be purchased in-person. Payroll deduct plans are not eligible for cancellation with the annual membership unless outlined under our cancellation and refund policy 
 
New faculty and staff may be eligible for our complimentary 7 Day Trial Membership.
 
Note: If an employee becomes an enrolled student, the student status will override their employee status. In this instance, the Activity, Services, Building, and Recreation Fee would need to be assessed for the membership outline above 

Cardinal Membership Pricing

Membership TypeCostService PeriodPayment TypeRenewal
Annual$40512 months from date of purchaseCredit card, check, or payroll deduct (employees only)Online or in-person, payroll deduct in-person only
Monthly Recurring$33.75/monthRecurring, bills 1st of month until cancelledCredit card onlyOnline or in-person, cancel online or in-person
Month$49One month from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person

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 the Activity and Service Fee | The Office of the Registrar | Iowa State University (iastate.edu)

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. 

Non-Enrolled Students

Former students are eligible to purchase a Recreation Services membership following their last semester of enrollment. This affiliation is not available for consecutive academic semesters. 
 
Note: Summer term does count toward the last semester of enrollment
Membership TypeCostService PeriodPayment TypeRenewal
Fall/Spring Semester$180 per semesterAccess from date of purchase through end of semesterCredit card onlyN/A
Summer$90Access from date of purchase through end of semesterCredit Card onlyN/A
Month$49One month from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person until end of semester

Gold Membership

Alumni Association Members | Employee, Student, or Retiree Spouse | Dependents* | Domestic Partners 

 
*Dependents must be 18 years or older and be dependents of employees or students
 
The above affiliations are ways for family of Faculty and Staff, community members, or recent graduates to become affiliated with Iowa State University in order to purchase a membership. All affiliates listed above are required to purchase an ISU Card from the ISU Card Office for $15 and must renew that card before June 30th each year to maintain their affiliation. Alumni Association members must also maintain a current membership with the Alumni Association. 
 
Community members or recent graduates can become affiliated with Iowa State University by joining and becoming a member of the ISU Alumni Association. A separate fee is required to join. Once an Alumni Association membership has been purchased, proof of purchase can be taken to the ISU Card Office located in Beardshear Hall to purchase an ISU Card for $15. Once the ISU Card has been obtained, you can stop in person or request an account online to set up a Recreation Services profile to purchase a membership. 
 
To join the Alumni Association, visit www.isualum.org.
 
Note: If an affiliate becomes an enrolled student, the student status will override their affiliate status. In this instance, the Activity, Services, Building, and Recreation Fee would need to be assessed for the membership outline above 
Membership TypeCostService PeriodPayment TypeRenewal
Annual$46512 months from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person
Monthly Recurring$38.75Recurring - bills 1st of month until cancelledCredit card onlyOnline or in-person, cancel online or in-person
Month$49One month from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person

Youth Membership

Youth memberships are available for minors age 3-17 and must be tied to an active Cardinal membership. Pricing is per child. Youth memberships must be initially purchased in-person.

Membership TypeCostService PeriodPayment TypeRenewal
Cardinal Youth Annual$9012 months from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person
Cardinal Youth Monthly Recurring$7.50/monthRecurring - bills 1st of month until cancelledCredit card onlyOnline or in-person, cancel online or in-person
Cardinal Youth Month$10One month from date of purchaseCredit card onlyOnline or in-person

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.