Fitness Facility Named ‘Dr. Jack and Susie Dugan Wellness Center’
           
The new wellness center under construction on campus will bear the name of the donors whose $1 million gift seeded the financing of the $21 million state-of-the-art facility.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved naming the facility the “Dr. Jack and Susie Dugan Wellness Center” during its monthly meeting May 24-25 in Kingsville. Construction of the facility was made possible by the lead gift provided by the Dugan family with the remaining provided by a small fee increase approved by students in a referendum.

When completed next year, the 67,000-square foot complex will include two regulation NCAA basketball courts, weight and cardio areas, locker rooms, including two for those with special needs, and group exercise rooms. Other areas include support facilities and offices for Athletics and Recreational Sports.

The University’s existing facilities at the Glasscock Fitness and Wellness Center were built in the 1960s for an enrollment of 800 students. With more than 8,400 students, as well as faculty and staff on campus in 2007 the current facilities cannot meet the needs of all those desiring to use them. Approximately $17.5 million will be used for construction of the wellness center. An additional $3.5 million in University funds will be used for construction of a partial third floor that will house a new emergency operations center.