Before and After RecRe: Clear ROI for Union, Rec, and Residence Life Desks
Clear ROI For Campus Desks
Picture a normal day. A checkout desk in your student union, campus rec, or residence life space is staffed so students can borrow gear and help students with questions. There are a couple of busy hours. The rest is quiet. The job turns into waiting and scrolling on your phone. The space is open, but underused.
RecRe changes that. Keep staff where they add value and let a self-service solution handle routine checkouts. The general student population get more hours of access while student staff shifts toward engagement and programming. You get clean data to prove impact.
Make technology work for you…
What one checkout desk really costs
(Includes union, rec, and residence life desks)
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Hours staffed per day | 10 |
| Days open per year | 250 |
| Hourly wage | $15 |
| Annual hours | 2,500 |
| Annual labor per desk | $37,500 |
Most campuses run several checkout desks across student unions, campus rec, and residence life. Costs stack up fast.
Two better models with RecRe
Option A: Peak-hour staffing plus RecRe
Keep a student at the desk during the busy window. RecRe handles checkouts the rest of the time so the space is open whenever the building is open. Student staff are freed up for engagement and programming instead of sitting at the desk.
Staffed hours per day – 4
Labor per desk – $15,000
Estimated net savings per desk: ≈ $15,000 per year (This already factors in the cost of implementing one RecRe box on a lease.)
What students get
– Up to 16 hours of access most days
– No line during off-peak times
– A quick, self-service experience
What student staff do now
– Greet students on the floor, answer questions, run quick activities
– Host mini-programs and help students get started
– Use data to plan inventory and events
Wayfinding when unstaffed
Place simple signs at the desk or near the RecRe box with a “need help” path. Example: “Questions? Contact the central service desk in Room 120 or email recdesk@yourcampus.edu.” Student staff do more than check gear out, and students still know exactly how to get help when a staff member is not at the checkout desk.
Real campus example
Utah State shifted to RecRe for all of their rec gear. They cut checkout desk hours, raised student pay, and put staff out in the gym and on the fields. Service improved. Access improved.
Option B: Fully self-service with RecRe
Need to hit a budget target without cutting access. RecRe can cover all hours with clear signage to a central desk or shared inbox for questions.
- Staffed hours per day: 0
- Labor per desk: $0
- Estimated net savings per desk: ≈ $30,000 per year (This already factors in the cost of implementing one RecRe box on a lease.)
At a glance: per-desk estimated savings
(Union, rec, and residence life checkout desks)
| Scenario | Staffed hours/day | Estimated net savings per desk |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline checkout desk | 10 | $0 |
| Option A peak hours plus RecRe | 4 | $15,000 |
| Option B full self-service | 0 | $30,000 |
Campus-wide view
(Desks across student unions, campus rec, and residence life)
| Number of checkout desks | Baseline annual labor | Option A total savings (estimate) | Option B total savings (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $187,500 | $75,000 | $150,000 |
| 8 | $300,000 | $120,000 | $240,000 |
| 10 | $375,000 | $150,000 | $300,000 |
These totals do not count extra wins like fewer lost items, less damage, and higher student satisfaction.
Lease or buy, both pay back fast
RecRe offers lease or purchase options for RecRe boxes. If you want detailed pricing for your campus, reach out and book a demo.
Why students and staff like the change
– More hours of access for early mornings and late nights
– A better student job focused on engagement and programming, not waiting at a desk
– Clear data to right-size inventory and justify budgets
– Accountability tools that reduce loss and damage
– Simple signage so students always know how to get help when a staff member is not present
Make the shift in three steps
- List your checkout desks across unions, rec, and residence life with hours, wage, and items.
- Pick locations with the most off-peak demand.
- Launch with clear signs, a short how-to, and student staff acting as floor ambassadors who drive engagement.
See your exact ROI
Bring your wage rate, desk hours, and desk count across unions, rec, and residence life. We will run your numbers and share a campus-specific quote your leadership can approve with confidence.
Book a demo and we will show your before and after.
