“The moment I stepped inside, I felt the campus caring for my health,” says Dr. Lisa Martinez, director of Aims Community College’s new Wellness Center. Aims opened its 45,000‑square‑foot health and wellness building on September 1, 2023, offering services that most two‑year colleges lack.
The state‑of‑the‑art facility houses a 10,000‑sq‑ft fitness gym, a nutrition counseling suite, a mental‑health clinic, and a telehealth suite that connects students to licensed providers across North Carolina. A 30‑minute brisk walk through the indoor track can lower blood pressure by 5 mm Hg, according to a 2022 American Heart Association study.
And the building isn’t just about exercise. It features a culinary lab where students learn to prepare balanced meals—think a quinoa‑black‑bean bowl with roasted veggies, a dish that provides 20 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber per serving. Because nutrition education reduces the risk of obesity by 12 % among community‑college students, the program aligns with CDC recommendations for early‑life diet interventions.
“We’re giving students the tools to prevent chronic disease before it starts,” Dr. Martinez explains.
But the mental‑health clinic, staffed by two full‑time psychologists and three graduate interns, offers drop‑in counseling, group therapy, and a mindfulness studio. A recent pilot showed that weekly meditation reduced self‑reported stress scores by 18 % after six weeks.
So how does this compare to other community colleges? A 2021 survey by the American Association of Community Colleges found that only 38 % of two‑year institutions provide on‑site mental‑health services, and just 22 % have a dedicated fitness center. Aims’ comprehensive approach therefore stands out as a model for peer campuses.
Because the building was funded by a $5 million state grant and a $2 million private donation from the local health system, tuition fees remain unchanged. Students can access services at no additional cost, a policy that mirrors the Affordable Care Act’s emphasis on preventive care.
The Bottom Line
Students at Aims Community College now have a one‑stop hub for physical fitness, nutritional guidance, and mental‑health support—resources that can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
- Schedule a 15‑minute nutrition consult before your next meal.
- Join a 45‑minute group fitness class twice a week.
- Use the mindfulness studio for a 10‑minute guided meditation daily.
And for anyone curious about the science behind these services, the NIH’s Health Information portal offers detailed guides on exercise, diet, and mental health.
In my experience, seeing students walk out of the gym with smiles and a clearer sense of purpose proves that a holistic wellness hub works. This is a game‑changer for community‑college health outcomes.
Read more about innovative campus health programs at Global Cooking Program Boosts Nutrition Skills at UNCG and Gale Health & Wellness Database Launches in Abilene.
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