FAQ

What is a Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center?

The Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center (HWRC) is a facility where students can work out, socialize, destress, learn life-long healthy habits, and incorporate wellness principals into their daily lives. It is a place of activity, community, and celebration of Toros. A range of programs and services are anticipated to be a part of the HWRC, ranging from yoga and dance classes, to basketball, to healthy eating courses, to lifting weights and cardio.

You may have seen Health, Wellness, and Recreation centers at other CSU campuses. This is our time to get one for the CSUDH community.

Will my fees increase for the HWRC?

Just like the Loker Student Union, Health Center, and other campus programs, student fees are necessary to support the construction and operation of the HWRC. Tuition or state operating dollars cannot be used for these projects. The HWRC would increase the Student Body Center Fee by $215 per semester (fall and spring) and a reduced amount for the summer term.

What is the cost of this project, and what am I getting for my fees?

The cost of this project would be approximately $85 million dollars, but we have a $20 million dollar head start contribution from the state. This concept for the HWRC includes workout spaces, a demonstration kitchen, basketball courts, a MAC court, an outdoor patio, studying spaces, spaces to practice general wellness, and programming to help students with preventive care instead of emergency care. The final mix of spaces and programs will be influenced by student input. This is a unique opportunity for CSUDH; no other CSU has received state funding support like this.

How will this affect financial aid?

This will be a Category 2 fee and will therefore be factored into the total cost of education and covered by financial aid (if applicable).

When will construction start, and when will the new facility be open for use?

Although the official completion date is hard to determine and depends on a lot of factors, we anticipate the Center opening in Fall 2026, upon approval of the referendum. 

Where would this facility be located?

The Center will be located adjacent to the Torodome, where the Athletics Field House currently sits. That Field House will be demolished.

How are students involved in the decision making?

Students have been involved from the start and helped shape the concept of the HWRC. We will continue to be involved throughout the design, construction, and operation of the facility. HWRC: created by CSUDH students, for CSUDH students.

How will this new facility and renovations improve student lives on a daily basis?

The HWRC at CSUDH will elevate fitness and self-care as vital components to student development, while addressing historic health disparities in our community. The 2021 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment of CSUDH students revealed that physical and mental health issues were widespread among respondents (see CSUDH Student Health Assessment graph).

The best proactive approach to teaching healthy behaviors is to intervene early, before there is a lifetime of habits to break. As such, incorporating fitness and self-care into the CSUDH footprint is ideal for helping our students learn and develop long-term healthy behaviors. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the alarming disparities in health care and wellness resources, particularly for African American, low-income White, and Latinx people. Lack of access leaves these groups more susceptible to poor nutrition and inadequate health care, further exacerbating the comorbidity rates of already vulnerable populations. Factors that make these populations more vulnerable often have their origins in unhealthy lifestyle choices that are engaged in from an early age.

As a university with 86% students of color, CSUDH must have a health and wellness facility to help address this inequity and start students on the path of wellness while they are still on campus. A health and wellness center would be an invaluable resource for students. Its impact would reverberate into the future, as better health and wellness education and practices among our graduates spread throughout the Southern California community, where the majority of CSUDH alumni reside.

Are we paying now?

The increased fee will not take effect until the fall semester of the academic year the building is expected to be open and operational. It is anticipated that the facility will be open for use in 2026-27.

How will the building be operated?

The intent is for the HWRC to be open during the day and into the night nearly every day during the academic year. Operating hours will be adjusted to match student demand. The facility will also require many student employees to support a range of positions, providing more job and professional development opportunities for students.

Will the HWRC be sustainable?

Yes, there are minimum design and construction standards for buildings on a CSU campus which means the HWRC must be at least LEED Silver. This will be accomplished through a variety of methods, including using recycled materials, efficient heating and cooling, and solar panels on the roof.

How can students get involved in the project?

You can follow us on Instagram @getcenteredtoros.