New Recreation Facility Fee to fund student recreation activities and facilities at OC starting Winter 2027

Beginning in Winter 2027, a new Recreation Facility Fee will be added to student accounts each term to help support recreation and wellness at Okanagan College.

The fee will go directly toward funding health and wellness activities, as well as to maintaining the fitness centres, gymnasium and recreation facilities at our Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon campuses.

These spaces and programs are about more than fitness: they offer OC students opportunities to stay active, connect with others, have fun and support your physical, mental, social and emotional well-being while they're at OC.

Frequently asked questions

• Q. Are OC recreation facilities only accessible to students or others who have paid an additional fee?

  No. Throughout the year, Okanagan College hosts events and activities that are open to all students, and in some cases also open to alumni, employees, and other members of the OC community and broader public. Examples of these events could be student orientation, convocation ceremonies and other activities.

  However, for access to gymnasium and/or regular use of fitness facilities or for participation in specific programs, the facilities operate on a user-pay model, similar to other facilities locally. The information here is specific to student use and memberships.

• Q. OC has never had a student Recreation Facility Fee before - why is this being introduced now?
  The timing reflects a significant expansion of recreation and wellness opportunities for OC students. With the new Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre opening in Kelowna in 2027, OC will have substantially more capacity for fitness, intramurals, recreation and wellness programming at our largest location.

  Recognizing this opportunity, the College is renewing its approach to student recreation and wellness at all campuses. The Recreation Facility Fee will provide a sustainable way to resource these opportunities and help ensure students across OC will benefit.

• Q. There was a fundraising campaign by the OC Foundation in support of building a new facility in Kelowna - how is that related?

  The Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus is a reality because of many incredible donors who contributed to the $14 million capital fundraising campaign.

  People from across our community felt strongly that OC students would benefit from access to a modern facility where they could engage in activities that were good for physical, mental and social wellbeing - and they showed their commitment through generous contributions to the OC Foundation's Thrive Here campaign. The money raised through this campaign, plus an additional $4 million contribution from the City of Kelowna, funded the capital construction of the new Recreation and Wellness Centre in Kelowna.

  Operating the new Centre will be done through a partnership between the City and Okanagan College.

• Q. How will the fee work?

  The fee is considered an Ancillary Fee, which means it is applied in addition to student tuition.

  It is mandatory, which means students who meet eligibility criteria will be charged the fee.

• Q. What are the benefits of the fee?

  Students who pay the fee will gain access to OC fitness centres, recreation and wellness facilities, and gymnasiums, in accordance with facility operating hours and schedules.

  The fee will also fund recreation programming and activities across OC campuses.

• Q. How can I find out about recreation and wellness programming at OC? Are there schedules or sign-ups?

  Yes! OC has programming year-round at each campus for students, covering a range of activities reflecting diverse interests, abilities and availabilities. Check the OC website, social media and promotions at each campus for details.

• Q. Why isn't this included in the cost of tuition or other funding?

  Student tuition is aligned to the costs associated with specific courses and programs. Recreation and wellness programming is not assessed as part of tuition.

  Post-secondary institutions do not receive direct/targeted funding from governments to pay for recreational activities or facilities on campus, although public funding does contribute to student services, including campus life activities. The Recreation Facility Fee will ensure ongoing, sustainable resources for recreation and wellness programming.

  OC is grateful to the many donors in our community who contributed toward the capital costs of building the new Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre. Their generosity will have an impact on students and the community for generations.

• Q. How much is the fee, and who does it apply to?

  The fee reflects the facilities available at a student's home campus. Students enrolled in four or more credits in a term will pay the full fee fee; students enrolled in fewer than four credits will be assessed at a lesser rate.

  Student category	Per term fee (3x per year: Winter / Spring-Summer / Fall)
  4 or more credits or equivalent (Students in Kelowna, Penticton)	$145
  4 or more credits or equivalent (Students in Vernon, Distance Education)	$72.50
  Fewer than 4 credits or equivalent (Students in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Distance Education)	$36.25
  Apprenticeship students in training programs four weeks and under (Apprentices in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon)	$36.25
  Exempt - no fee
  Salmon Arm students	No charge
  Domestic Adult Upgrading students	No charge
  Domestic English Language students	No charge
  Accessible Education & Training students	No charge
  General Interest students	No charge
  CampOC students	No charge

• Q. Do students who pay the fee have access to any/all OC recreation facility (fitness centres, gyms, etc.) in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon?

  Students who pay the full (4 or more credits) Penticton and Kelowna fee have access to any OC recreation facility.

  Students who pay the full fee rate (4 or more credits) for Vernon and Distance Education have access to the Vernon fitness facilities. They can choose to pay the Penticton and Kelowna rate to gain access to the facilities at those campuses as well.

  Where the fee applies to students enrolled in fewer than four credits, they will receive a one-month pass that is valid at any OC recreation facility.

• Q. Can students who are exempt from paying the Recreation Facility Fee still access OC recreation facilities on campus (fitness centres, gyms, etc.)?

  A student who is exempt from paying the Recreation Facility Fee has the ability to “opt-in” and pay the fee, to be able to access OC recreation facilities.

  Students can do this at the OC Student Hub at their campus, or through the AskOC Help Centre online.

• Q. What about students who take courses at multiple campuses - what fee will they pay?

  The fee is applied based on your home campus (usually the campus you applied to).

• Q. What options are there for OC students in Salmon Arm?

  The OC campus in Salmon Arm is located nearby the SASCU Recreation Centre and offers a discounted student admission rate (drop-in).

• Q. Why isn't the fee mandatory for students at all OC campuses?

  The College is not requiring Salmon Arm-based students pay a mandatory Recreation Facility Fee, reflecting the fact there are no on-campus recreation and fitness facilities.

  In Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton, the mandatory fee will help cover the operations and maintenance costs of on-campus facilities.

• Q. Why is the mandatory fee higher for students in Penticton and Kelowna?

  The Penticton campus includes a full gymnasium and fitness centre, and as of January 2027, the Kelowna campus will also have a gymnasium and recreation centre. The mandatory fee helps cover the costs of operating these facilities.

  In Vernon, the reduced fee reflects the fact that campus has a fitness centre and access to the outdoor track and field but not a full gymnasium.

• Q. Why is the fee mandatory for Distance Education students?

  Many students enrolled in Distance Education programs/courses live in the Okanagan, and access OC campuses and services.

• Q. Can I “opt out” of paying the Recreation Facility Fee? 

  No. The fee is a mandatory student fee.