Managing your school schedule and making time to drive to your gym and exercise can be a constant struggle, but the Village Fitness Center now offers students and faculty a place to workout on campus.

Students who live in the Village or the Towers at Centennial Square have free access to the center, which opened Aug. 12 in Centennial Square, Building A. Faculty and students who live off-campus must pay a $50 registration fee and $34 month-to-month membership fee to use the facility.

A regular membership at Club One (outside the campus) would cost about double the price for the monthly fee and an extra $200 for the registration fee, according to John Penacerrada, program manager of the Village Fitness Center.

The center has eight treadmills, eight bikes, seven elliptical machines and two spin bikes. All the cardio machines have BroadcastVision, a cardio theater system that lets the exerciser enjoy television broadcasting with a headphone while working-out.

In addition, the center has Techno Gym and Free Motion equipment, some of the latest equipment lines, which is designed for different kinds of exercise that provide a total body workout. There are also separated spaces for weight machines, and a free-weight room.

“It’s very crucial that we’re able to build an awareness (on health and staying active) to the younger generation,” said Penacerrada. “Over 61 percent of the U.S. population is overweight.”

Many students said they enjoy the location of the center.

“Today is my first day (using the facility) and I like that it’s free and it’s really convenient,” said Rachael Bowman, a sophomore business major who lives in the Towers. “If you don’t have a car, it’s hard to get to a fitness club in the city.”

Word of the new fitness center has also spread to students who live off-campus.

“I think the big advantage is the location, I come here and work out between my classes,” said Jon Bulos, a junior majoring in kinesiology, who lives off-campus near Monster Park.

One of the popular programs at the center is the Jump Start Orientation, available to members at no cost. Jump Start Orientation provides two complementary one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer. The goal of the sessions is to orient new members to the facility and assess their body compositions and identify their training goals.

The only complaints from students stem from the lack of equipment.

“It’s pretty much like a real gym, but I wish they had heavier weights and more back machines,” said Greg Long, a junior business major.

Andrea Marincovich, a freshman living in the dorms, said she disapproves of the lack of abdomen machines.

The Center is now preparing to launch programs focusing on abs and back, stretch breaks and boot-camp classes by mid-October according to Penacerrada. Also, personal training, sports-specific training and weight-loss programs are available.

“Our goal is to create as many as programs we can to keep the members active and also to inform the entire campus community that we’re here,” said Penacerrada.