College campuses have been slowly but steadily prioritizing the resources they can provide to students outside their classes. In part 1, I discuss some academic resources on campus that often go underused. This article looks at some of the resources that have a less direct impact on the classroom. These are nevertheless important. Students who develop a successful campus lifestyle are also more likely to succeed in the classroom.
Fitness Center
While that walk across campus from the science building to the business school may help students get their steps in, I cannot recommend enough setting aside some time for dedicated exercise. This routine will be intuitive to some students, particularly those high school athletes who are already used to some physical activity in their days. For those who are less athletically inclined, the idea of going to a fitness center may be a bit more awkward. To those students, do not assume that "exercise" is reserved for the traditionally active people running miles or lifting giant weights. Students should find some activity they enjoy, whether it's casually shooting baskets for a bit after their last class or finding a quiet space to stretch or do yoga. Students should find something they enjoy and can do at their own pace. More outgoing students may discover an intramural sports league to join. Intramural sports are incredibly popular and excellent for students to stay in shape and make meaningful social connections.
Counseling Services
Many universities have begun offering some degree of mental health counseling services. The quality and availability of these services vary, however. Since the pandemic, many of these resources can be challenging to access. The scope of campus counseling is also typically limited, and significant mental health issues such as trauma and grief counseling will often get referred out to an off-campus provider. Routine visits are also likely to get referred out as well, as these services are typically quite busy and want to leave availability to see as many students as possible.
So, why do I mention these services? Getting mental health help is hard. While it can be obvious when something is wrong, identifying what is going on and what to do about it can be less clear. Use campus counseling services as a starting point when unsure about what you need, but know help is needed. If the problem does have a simple solution (time management skills to relieve feeling overwhelmed, for example), then the campus counselor may be all that is needed. And as with the rest of the resources mentioned in this article and part 1, these services are usually free, which is a huge benefit. While emergencies and chronic issues are often better handled by professionals off campus, campus counseling can be a great starting point for understanding and navigating mental wellness.
Student Life
Student life or its equivalent is an office on campus dedicated to doing fun stuff for students. Events that come to campus are usually through student life and are there for students to have a safe and entertaining space to blow off steam as a community. Not all students are going to be interested in all events. However, many students are unaware of what events are coming up on campus and completely miss out on events entirely. Drop by student life every once and a while. Pay attention to those emails too. Some campuses may have a de facto second student life organization that runs out of on-campus housing. Students living in the dorms should also stay in contact with their RA and the events going on with their housing unit.
Affinity Groups
I had a hard time thinking of a way to categorize this last batch of resources. Still, the common thread is that they all encourage students of different populations to embrace and celebrate their identity and provide resources specific to them. For example, LGBTQ+ organizations are growing on campuses across the country, helping this community feel more welcome on campus. Diversity centers and other organizations allow students of color and other backgrounds to find community on campus. As well, religious organizations have long been present on campus. These are just a few examples of organizations developed to allow students to celebrate their identity on campus.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, as campuses and their students continue to identify areas they can better help students develop themselves as individuals outside of the classroom and develop a healthy campus lifestyle. Students should always keep their feelers out for opportunities and resources that enable them to be more comfortable on campus and live in a fulfilling way. Many students struggle despite having free resources right there on campus. This article helps students avoid that circumstance.
