Rules & Regulations

A valid Houston City College Student ID or Faculty/Staff is required to access the Weight & Cardio Room, Mindful Room, or the Gymnasium, NO EXEMPTIONS! Students, Faculty & Staff must present their ID every time they wish to utilize the Wellness Center.

To promote safety, reduce the spread of communicable diseases, and prevent additional wear and tear on the equipment, all members are asked to wear appropriate athletic clothing while working out or participating in activities. Members not wearing the proper attire will be told to adjust as needed.

The following items are considered appropriate and permitted:

• All members require athletic sneakers/shoes that are closed-toed
• T-Shirt/Tank tops that cover your back, chest, sides, and stomach are required
• Yoga Pants, sweatpants, athletic pants, and shorts are required
• All clothes must not display any indecent or offensive images
• All members are required to adhere to all the stated rules

The following items are considered inappropriate and not permitted:

• Street clothes (Jeans, studded pant, belt, or studded belt)
• Revealing clothing (Short shorts, halter tops, bathing suits, or string t-shirts)
• Sandals, open-toed shoes, or flip-flops
• Workboots
• Wet and dripping shoes/clothing
• No inappropriate language on clothing
• Backpacks or duffle bags (place in the locker room)

ONLY water is allowed within the Wellness/Fitness Center. NO food or colored beverages are permitted.

The Wellness Center men’s and women’s locker room offers highly secured lockers and six showers each room for members to freshen up after a workout. HCC Wellness Center staff are not responsible for any lost or stolen items, and we highly recommend that all personal items, such as backpacks, duffle bags, loose clothing, etc., be stored in a locker using an HCC lock which can be checked out upon signing into the wellness center. We will do our best to ensure the safekeeping of all member’s IDs.

• Walk-in
• Only ONE user per session.
• Only ONE session per day.
• Session limited to 15 minutes per day.
• Must check in at Wellness Center reception desk.
• Valid student/employee ID required.
• Mandatory lighting required.
• No food or drinks allowed.
• No handbags, backpacks or duffle bags allowed.
• Lockers are available in the Locker Room to store personal items.
• Comfortable casual or athletic attire highly recommended.
• Socks are highly recommended.
• Highly recommend removed shoes.
• Shoe rack is provided in the room.

The use of any tobacco products in the Wellness/Fitness Center is PROHIBITED. Members who use tobacco products in the Wellness Center will lose their privilege as a member.

When a fire alarm is activated, the appropriate action by any current occupants of the Wellness Center is to evacuate the facility immediately. In the event of an emergency, there are emergency exits in the Weight & Cardio room, Gymnasium, and the Wellness Center Lobby. They are labeled as such and should only be utilized in the case of emergencies. Violators who exit through them when no immediate emergency is present are subjected to losing their members’ privileges.

Your health and safety are our top priorities at the Central College Wellness Center. To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all users, we have implemented a range of health and safety measures in line with local guidelines and best practices.

General Precautions

• Regular Cleaning: Our facilities are regularly cleaned and sanitized, including high-touch surfaces and equipment.
• Sanitization Stations: Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the center. Please sanitize your hands upon entry and regularly during your visit.
• Equipment Wipe-Down: Wipes are provided for users to clean equipment before and after each use. Do not use wipes on digital screens on the cardio equipment.
• Health Screenings: We may conduct health screenings upon entry, including temperature checks and health questionnaires.

Capacity and Distancing

• Limited Capacity: We may limit the number of people in the wellness center at any given time to ensure proper distancing.
• Physical Distancing: Please maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet from others whenever possible.
• Group Classes: Group fitness classes will operate at a reduced capacity and advanced registration may be required.
• Reservations: Certain areas, such as group fitness classes and meeting rooms, require reservations to help manage capacity and ensure everyone has a space.

As stated previously, the health and safety of our members are vital to the functioning of the Wellness Center. As a reminder, if you have the flu, cold, or any other contagious illness symptoms, please do not enter the Wellness Center until you feel better. Training while infected with an illness can significantly increase the risk of injuries, so for your safety, GET BETTER. Additionally, contagious diseases can occur rapidly because of their proximity to other members. Disinfectant spray and wipes will be available in and throughout the Wellness Center for members to clean up after using equipment or a machine. Please be courteous of your fellow members and utilize these supplies offered.

Any member who sustains an injury while using the Wellness Center should immediately contact an employee for assistance. If more extensive first aid is required, the proper personnel will be contacted. It is essential that all injuries or illnesses sustained within the Wellness Center be reported to a staff member to begin the appropriate procedure. An Incident Report will be filled out and filed by a staff member.

Any lost articles or clothing in the Wellness Center are kept behind the front desk as you enter the facility for a total of 14 days. Unclaimed items will be either discarded or donated. The Wellness Center is not responsible for any lost or stolen items left at the front desk while you are training. We advise all members to utilize the locker room to store their items securely and safely.

Cardio equipment (Treadmills, Ellipticals, Stair-stepper, etc.) is first-come-first, serve basis. We ask that you please limit use to 30 minutes while other members waiting. The Wellness Center staff can assist you if you have any questions or concerns. We encourage all our members to wipe down cardio equipment after use.

1. Regarding the courtesy of all Wellness Center members and for safety reasons, all lifters MUST re-rack dumbbells and weight plates after they are done using them. Additionally, having weights scattered throughout the weight room is hazardous. Failure to abide by this Wellness Center policy may lead to the suspension or termination of membership.
2. Please DO NOT slam or drop the weights. Members must be mindful that we share this building with ongoing classes. We must not do anything to disturb the teaching of courses.

The Wellness Center staff enforces college policies and Wellness Center policies and procedures. Members must respect the authority of the Wellness Center staff and respond to their directions accordingly. Courtesy for other members, staff, and the equipment in the Wellness Center is expected and required. Loud, obscene, or abusive behavior, such as rudeness, profanity, horseplaying, and disrespect, will NOT be tolerated. Failure to comply with college policies and Wellness Center guidelines may result in immediate removal from the fitness center, revocation of membership, and the possibility of disciplinary action. By entering the Houston City College Wellness Center, you are entering at your own risk and agreed to follow these policies and procedures. Any member failure to adhere to the Wellness Center policies and procedures will lose their privilege of using the facilities.

Members are subject to replacement charges for damaged equipment because of reckless or negligent behavior. Members who remove any Wellness Center equipment or property will lose the privilege of using the facility. Members may be charged for the replacement of the equipment or property.

Any person who enters the Wellness Center during unstaffed hours will lose their privilege of using the facility. Those who are suspected of using another member’s Student ID, both members will be subjected to an immediate suspension and termination of their memberships.

The Wellness Centers will also be closed during inclement weather and college class cancellations. Please feel free to call the Wellness Center during these times to check on the status 713.718.6084.

NO speakers are allowed in the Wellness Center. Please use personal music players with headphones for other fitness activities—NO tampering with the Television or Stereo System. If members want a TV tuned to a specific channel, please ask a staff member.

Call HCC Police @ 88888 on ‘Office phone’ or Dial 911 at the first sign of a Medical Emergency

Location: Central College Wellness/Fitness Center, 1300 Holman St, SJAC: 178, Houston, TX 77004

Demographic: Students, Faculty & Staff

In the event of a Medical Emergency in the Wellness Center, the Fitness Center Manager will assume responsibility of the situation. If the Fitness Center Manager is not present at the time of the emergency, a Fitness Center Staff Member, or CPR qualified Work Study student will be expected to take charge and follow the appropriate steps.

Medical Emergency

Steps to abide by when a Medical Emergency occurs:

1. STOP all ongoing activities and clear the area.
2. Assess the area to ensure that it is safe for you to enter & tend to the injured member.
3. Immediately check victim for consciousness, breathing, signs of life and severe bleeding, if necessary and applicable administer the proper aid. *All staff members must be CPR qualified*
4. Activate EMS immediately, DIAL HCC Police @ 713-718-8888) on office phone, or DIAL 911 on a cellphone.

Medical Treatment: Full medical emergencies are best handled by dialing 911 and providing basic first aid until the fire department or paramedics arrives. Under certain circumstances such as large disasters, assistance from the fire department or paramedics may not be immediately available. If immediate medical assistance is required, take the person(s) to one of the following facilities:

• Local Hospital
• Local Clinic

Minor Incident

A minor incident is one that does not require initiation of the emergency medical procedures. Examples include simple first aid for minor cuts and scratches or clean-up of chemical spills involving very small quantities. Incidents more complicated than these examples should be handled as major incidents until a qualified and trained individual can assess the situation and reclassify the incident as minor.

Evacuate the area if member display or complain of any uncommon signs and/or symptoms.
After evacuation, do not reenter the area until it has been cleared by the Facilities Manager.
For more information about campus-wide emergency procedures, please review the HCC Emergency Guide.