$0 May Dues and $0 Enrollment Fees

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Both of our facilities are open:

  • Monday - Thursday 5 am-9 pm
  • Friday 5 am-8 pm
  • Saturday 7 am-7 pm
  • Sunday 7 am-5 pm

Contact a Membership Services Representative at (984) 974-6054 for NW Cary or 984-974-2573 for Meadowmont to schedule a tour or an appointment to enroll and complete paperwork. You can also click here to enroll online at any time!

All billing cycles will occur on the first of each month and will cover the upcoming calendar month of membership dues. For example, you will be billed for the entire month of May on May 1. If the first of the month falls on a weekend, the billing process will be completed on the following business day.

The 30-Day Guarantee provides members with the opportunity to fully explore the membership option they have chosen while still maintaining an option to terminate the membership within the first 30 days of their membership. Assuming appropriate notice and timing of cancellation during the 30-Day Guarantee period, the member will receive a full refund of the enrollment fees, if applicable, and will only be responsible for the dues of the first full month of membership. Additionally, all memberships are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. If the member decides at any time after the first month, for any reason, that it would be best to end the UNC Wellness Center membership, the member can do so by providing appropriate notice within 30 days.

To help UNC Wellness Center members with special medical circumstances or with personal reasons for not utilizing the facility for longer periods of time, UNC Wellness Centers will allow members to freeze memberships within certain guidelines. Notice and confirmation of any freeze must be secured before the freeze period begins. The Membership Office can advise members and provide the appropriate documentation.

Freezes are available in increments of one month and allow members to freeze their membership up to six months in a calendar year. There is no fee to freeze a membership and the freeze period can start on any day of the month. Couple and family members can freeze their portion of the membership while keeping others on the same membership active. The member’s monthly membership dues will not be charged during the billing cycle in which the freeze occurs.

To help get you started on the right foot, all members will receive each of the following at no additional charge:

  • Fitness equipment orientation
  • Personal training consultation

These benefits are often most useful when completed during the first month of your membership, but each member can determine when the consultation and orientation will be most productive as there is no expiration date on these benefits.

Please call the front desk of the wellness center to schedule an equipment orientation and/or a personal training consultation: 984-974-5900 for NW Cary and 919-966-5500 for Meadowmont.

Membership offers full unlimited access to both the Meadowmont and Northwest Cary locations. There is nothing else needed to access both UNC locations. Simply present your current barcode ID tag at the front desk of either center to gain access.

UNC Wellness Center members also have full unlimited access to the Rex Wellness Centers. To gain full access to the Rex Wellness Centers, please email (hyperlink the wellness@unchealth.unc.edu email account) a Membership Services Representative to complete the appropriate paperwork.

As a complimentary benefit to our members, UNC Wellness Centers will give six complimentary digital passes to each adult member every year on July 1st. New members will also receive six complimentary digital passes at the time of enrollment. All complimentary electronic passes expire each year on July 1 as these passes do not roll over year-over-year. You can redeem these passes by bringing your guest to the front desk when you arrive at the Wellness Center.

Additionally, you can purchase guest passes at the front desk at any time. In order to use the facility, guests must complete all requested documentation, present photo identification and adhere to all UNC Wellness Center policies.

The aquatics area closes 15 minutes before the formal close of the facility each day. Otherwise, the hours mirror those of the facility.

The pool is 25 yards long and is maintained at 83 degrees. The whirlpool is kept at approximately 103 degrees while the sauna’s temperature is kept at approximately 185 degrees.

When we hear thunder, the pool closes for 30 minutes after thunder or 30 minutes after the last sighted lightning strike. You may wonder why we would close an indoor pool. There are many excellent conductors of electricity at an indoor pool with water and metal being the most obvious. The number of windows in the aquatics area also increases the safety risk associated with a lightning strike. The health and safety of our members is our primary concern. We would much rather err on the side of caution than put our members and employees at risk.

The Wellness Center at NW Cary allows the use of the fenced-in turf field during daylight hours for exercise and play when no scheduled classes, events or programs are happening. As with inside the center, please be respectful and careful of others when using the turf field. Children under age 13 have to be directly supervised at all times. Please check in at the front desk prior to using the field.

All members ages 4 and older have access to the climbing and bouldering walls as part of their membership. We also offer classes such as “Learn to Climb," “Learn to Belay” and “Learn to Boulder” to get our climbers off to a great start. Safety will be our main focus with climbing so any roped climbing will be supervised. Reservations are required to climb and reservations can be made by calling the front desk (984-974-5900) or through your member portal. For more information on how to create your online account, please click here.

  • Your child must be enrolled as a member starting at the age of 8.
  • They can participate in any of the age-appropriate programs that we have on the class schedule.
  • There should be no drop-off of any children under 13 without an accompanying adult.
  • Children under age 13 should have direct parental supervision at all times, which means that a parent or other authorized guardian should maintain constant visual contact and the ability to verbally communicate with the child in a normal “inside” speaking voice.
    Children in strollers can be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the track and may be pushed on the track in the two designated walking lanes.
  • Members may not use any strength training equipment or cardiovascular equipment – including equipment on the track – while supervising a child in a stroller.
  • Members age 8-12 may exercise in the following areas of the facility with direct parental supervision:
    • All cardiovascular training equipment and areas
    • All stretching areas
    • Fitness pool
    • Multi-purpose room
    • Track
    • Turf Field (NWC)
    • Climbing Wall (NWC)
  • Members age 8-12 may not use the following areas and equipment:
    • All strength training equipment, except with direct supervision by a UNC Wellness Center personal trainer
    • Group fitness classes, except specific youth programs
    • Sauna
    • Whirlpool
  • Children age 7 and under may exercise in the following areas of the facility with direct parental supervision:
    • Fitness pool
    • Multi-purpose room
    • Track
    • Upstairs stretching area
    • Turf Field (NWC)
    • Climbing Wall (NWC)
  • Children age 7 and under do not have access to the following areas:
    • Clinical fitness area
    • Group fitness classes, except for specific youth programs
    • Main fitness area
    • Sauna
    • Whirlpool

Children over the age 3 must use gender-appropriate locker rooms. As an alternative, parents may choose to use one of the two family changing rooms in the Aquatics area.

Lockers in the locker rooms are “day lockers” for temporary use; members  may utilize them only when using the facility. Just bring your own lock to secure your items and take it with you when you leave. The use of a lock to secure your items is strongly encouraged.

Yes, UNC Wellness Centers provide a public wireless network in most areas for members and guests.

These lockers are meant for keys, wallets or similar smaller items. If you come to the facility dressed to work out and don’t need a larger locker, simply place your items in the small locker and remove the key. Pin the key to your clothes or towel and retrieve your items before you leave.

The management and staff of UNC Wellness Centers utilize a number of tools to communicate with members and guests. Throughout the building, you’ll find displays, directional and promotional signs, printed calendars and schedules and friendly staff to help you find your way. In addition, we’ll use newsletters, our website, e-mails, announcements, social media and a variety of other tools to communicate programming information, schedule and facility changes, and other information that may be of value to our members. If you would like to be added to our email list, email us at wellness@unchealth.unc.edu to make this request.

The use of mobile phones while in exercise areas and classrooms is prohibited. If there is a need to make or receive a call, please do so in a common area such as a hallway or lobby area. The use of a mobile device for photographic and/or video capabilities is prohibited. Courtesy phones are available in the building to members and guests to make local calls.

The scent of perfumes, colognes and tobacco can be harmful to members who suffer from respiratory issues. We ask that you avoid wearing perfume or cologne while exercising. When sharing a facility with so many others, it is also important to practice good hygiene. Members who do not maintain good hygiene on a regular basis may disrupt others.

Members and guests should wear clean, appropriate workout attire and accessories when utilizing all exercise areas in the facility. Attire and accessories that compromise safety, damage equipment, are inappropriate for the activity, or make others uncomfortable may be prohibited. When choosing exercise attire, UNC Wellness Centers members are encouraged to consider the multigenerational nature of our medical fitness facility.

UNC Wellness Centers attire and accessories guidelines are designed to improve safety and create a comfortable and welcoming environment appropriate for fitness activities. If attire or accessories are deemed inappropriate based on the guidelines as stated, UNC Wellness Centers Staff may require members or guests to change, adjust attire, or leave the facility. Determining appropriateness is ultimately subjective and UNC Wellness Center’s management reserves the right to make this determination in all cases.

To clarify the attire policy, the following specifics may be useful:

The following are not permitted in our facility:

  • Apparel or accessories with offensive slogans, icons, or pictures
  • Apparel or accessories likely to offend or distract others
  • Plastic, rubber or other suits designed to accelerate fluid loss
  • Appropriate footwear is required in all areas of the facility. 

UNC Wellness Centers attire and accessories guidelines are designed to improve safety and create a comfortable and welcoming environment appropriate for fitness activities. If attire or accessories are deemed inappropriate based on the guidelines as stated, UNC Wellness Centers Staff may require members or guests to change, adjust attire or leave the facility. Determining appropriateness is ultimately subjective and UNC Wellness Center’s management reserves the right to make this determination in all cases.

It is our goal to keep all visitors safe and secure at all times when visiting UNC Wellness Centers. The facilities use a number of features to assist our staff in accomplishing this goal. These features include: alarmed exterior doors, monitored 24 hours per day; a main entrance staffed at all times during regular opening hours; and strategically located security cameras.

 

UNC Wellness Centers are tobacco-free environments. The use of all tobacco products is prohibited on any portion of UNC Wellness property.

Although there are a number of wonderful charity and community events, UNC Wellness Centers will not advertise, promote or post any information about events unrelated to UNC Wellness Center or UNC Health Care business. With the high number of requests from outside events, UNC Wellness Centers would not be able to accommodate them all. Additionally, solicitation of members or guests on UNC Wellness Center property is strictly prohibited.

Management uses a number of resources and tools to keep the facility and equipment clean, well-maintained and current with industry standards. Both UNC Health Care staff and contractors are employed in order to provide the highest quality service, while also keeping costs manageable.
Achieving a clean facility is not possible without the help of our members. Members can help preserve the facility by:

  • Cleaning equipment after use
  • Discarding soiled towels in appropriate locations
  • Informing staff members of any items that may need attention

Items found at UNC Wellness Centers will be held for one week; unclaimed, low-value items will be discarded. Wet and/or soiled items will be discarded immediately. Items of value estimated at $100.00 or more will be held longer and placed in a safe for 90 days. Please contact the front desk to inquire about a lost item.

To support key aspects of our mission, we will periodically host special events inside and outside of our facility. We will do so only after careful consideration of the resulting impact on normal operations. While we are committed to providing support for key community events, we are equally committed to remaining a consistent and valued resource for our members.

When you come in for the first time, just tell the front desk attendant that you are a new member and need an ID tag and picture. They’ll pull your account up in the computer, take your picture and assign you a barcode ID tag. From then on, they’ll just scan your barcode id tag to check you in. You may also use our Member App to check in with your mobile device. 

You’ll find both large towels (for swimming and showers) and small hand towels (for workouts) at the front desk. You can also find the hand towels at the fitness floor desk.

Our CardioTheater system provides the ability to watch and listen to selected TV programs while exercising. For hygiene reasons, UNC Wellness Centers do not provide headsets and ask members and guests to bring their own.

Yes, you can charge services like massage and personal training – to your account provided we have a debit card, credit card, or bank draft information. This program allows you to charge just about anything in UNC Wellness Centers to your account, which is billed monthly; members can take advantage of products or services without carrying cash, checks or credit cards around the facility. Any charges to your account that are made after a billing cycle will accumulate and be billed during the following billing cycle.

We do our best to provide the best programming available with little or no extra cost to our members, but sometimes we cannot avoid additional costs. Some notable examples are massage and personal training. Some special programs also require additional costs, but we try to avoid or minimize this whenever possible.