UNM's Student Affairs department is conducting another online survey to evaluate recreation programs and suggest improvements to Johnson Center, said Kim Kloeppel, fiscal planning officer for the department.
Kloeppel said that as part of the planning phase for remodeling Johnson Center, UNM hired consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey, based in Washington, D.C., to develop the 10-minute survey. The firm is being paid with part of the $80,000 approved in November by the regents for the planning phase of remodeling Johnson Center.
Recreation Services is also offering $550 in Lobo Cards as prizes in a drawing for students who participate.
Kloeppel said improvements to Johnson Center could mean an addition to the facility or creating a separate building but that this has not yet been determined.
"(We'll consider) the preferences from the survey that we get, and also the funding that we can use and recommendations from the architect," she said.
University architect Roger Lujan will work with Van H. Gilbert and Opsis Architecture, a firm based in Portland, Ore., on the project.
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Funding for the improvements would come from an increase in student fees and bonds that may be available, which are allocated by the budget department, Kloeppel said.
The online survey proposes raising student fees by $75 to $130 and also asks if students would pay additional premiums for a student-only facility and an eco-friendly facility.
Student Kahlil Simpson said Johnson Center could use upgrading but that students may not be happy with the fees.
"If it was state-of-the-art, I think it would make raised fees seem more reasonable," he said.
Kloeppel said the idea of upgrading recreation facilities has been on the table for quite some time and that President David Schmidly wants to improve student recreation to benefit students' community life on campus.
"It's old and needs to be worked on, and they've had some upgrades, but it doesn't meet the needs of the students at this time," she said.
Kloeppel said an improved Johnson Center would help with recruitment and graduation rates.
"It's also a good opportunity to help students reduce stress, and they have found that students who exercise are more engaged in their studies and they are healthier," she said.
Student Joseph Garcia said improving recreation facilities probably won't increase graduation rates.
"The way this University is run, it's not sustainable, the way the majors are organized, the way the departments operate. A whole host of things need to be redone instead of building a new workout facility," Garcia said.
Kloeppel said a student committee is also providing feedback on this project to ensure it meets students' expectations. The committee has toured other campuses with student facilities that include things like sand volleyball, climbing walls and lazy rivers.
"We're trying to build a facility that's specific to students and their needs," she said.
Student Nancy Tarin said she likes Johnson Center as it is and that the University should focus on more important things, like education.
"I'm a student," she said. "I don't have a lot of leisure time to do stuff on campus like a lazy river."
Kloeppel said construction should begin by January but that the start date will depend on student feedback and funding availability.
