As mental health challenges among college students continue to grow, the conversation around mental health on college campuses has, in turn, grown louder.
Campus recreation centers across the country are stepping into a role that goes far beyond any weight room or basketball court, transforming into inclusive wellness hubs that prioritize mental and emotional well-being alongside physical health.
Rising levels of student anxiety, depression and loneliness, further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, have prompted universities to rethink their wellness strategies. Campus rec isn’t just a place for movement, but a space for connection, recovery and mental reset.
This change is marked by thoughtful programming, revamped spaces and a reimagined approach to what it means to be well. Campus rec centers are becoming key players in a broader effort to support students in every dimension of their college experience.
Morgen Rizzo, the assistant director of Fitness and Wellbeing at the University of Pennsylvania, recognizes all of this and says Campus Rec’s role now is to lean into trends, adjust programming and fit the needs of their communities.
“Over my last few years in my role, there has been a significant transition in students’ behavior regarding mental health,” said Rizzo. “Students have been more open to talking about their struggles and they’re seeking ways to help improve their overall well-being. They need more wellness spaces on campus to relax, take a break from their studies and indulge in a form of self-care.”
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That insight has directly influenced Campus Rec’s programming. While yoga and Pilates were always available, they’ve now become more popular and centerpieces for students. These classes often fill up faster than traditional strength or cardio offerings, as they are beginning to prefer low-impact fitness.
Alongside a new preference for low-impact fitness, students are also looking for more wellness spaces. Penn Rec introduced two new areas to its facility, including a Rec Lounge designed for relaxation and community building, and a Recovery Room equipped with massage chairs, Normatec compression boots and massage guns.
Overall, the most essential part of facilitating and keeping these programs accessible, in Rizzo’s opinion, is their low-commitment nature. She said another key part of supporting students is working with their demanding academic schedules.
“Students have been really enjoying our new spaces and finding time at the Rec that’s not solely focused on physical movement,” said Rizzo. “We’re looking forward to living in these spaces and expanding all of our offerings.”
At Jacksonville State University (JSU), the campus recreation team is working to meet students where they are, especially during high-stress periods like midterms and finals. Paul Killen, the associate director of Programs at JSU University Recreation, said one of their standout programs is called “StressLESS,” a week-long initiative focused on helping students decompress.
Killen said JSU’s programs are designed to position the university as a valuable resource for student stress management, incorporating non-traditional formats alongside proven methods for coping with stress and supporting mental health.
One of the examples of these non-traditional offerings is coloring.
“For one evening, we flip one of our fitness studios into a coloring studio and provide students with banner-style paper with all kinds of templates, including ones of some recognizable landmarks on campus,” said Killen. “Helping our campus make the connections of utilizing our programs and services and how they play a role in balancing their mental health within a busy schedule has been a major focus of ours.”
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JSU is also offering ‘Wellness Lunch and Learn’ sessions. These sessions aim to invite students and the rest of JSU’s campus community to learn more about how certain choices affect their overall health.
The rec team at JSU is intentional about tying programs back to wellness outcomes, working with campus partners and helping students connect physical, social and mental well-being in meaningful ways.
Though Killen said it can be a challenge sometimes to get pilot programs off the ground, bearing with the process and engaging students is well worth it.
“I believe it’s important in these instances to remind ourselves these programs aren’t one-stop solutions to solve the problem,” said Killen. “That’s not what our goal is. Everyone is unique, and everyone is valued. So therefore, keeping your focus on the persons instead of what we might think the problem is, I believe is the secret sauce to crafting very impactful programs.”
The University of the Pacific’s campus recreation department has built its wellness strategy around accessibility and inclusivity. The goal, according to Amy Huang, the assistant director of Pacific Recreation Fitness & Wellness, is to create low-pressure opportunities that promote fun, connection and stress relief.
“Our wellness offerings are beyond traditional fitness to incorporate a wide range of activities that touch on all eight dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, environmental and financial, so we support students’ well-being in a well-rounded and meaningful way,” said Huang.
Pacific Rec offers a variety of different mental-health focused programming like Wellness Walks, where students join staff from Recreation and Counseling & Psychological Services for guided strolls around campus.
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Pacific also hosts events like Paint ‘n Sip and friendship bracelet making to promote relaxation and stress relief, along with therapy dog and llama visits at the end of the semester to bring students joy and comfort during a high-stress time.
Huang and her team aim to reach more students by offering a variety of programming beyond a typical gym setting.
“Whether through movement, social connection or mindfulness, we want to make sure that every student can find something that positively contributes to their well-being,” said Huang. “The most important thing to us is being student-centric, and that to us means understanding what our students need and want.”
Campus rec serves as a proactive tool for mental health support, as integrating mental wellness into daily routines helps normalize self-care and offers a pathway to belonging. Students can build community in group classes, intramural teams, or casual hangouts in rec lounges and learn that wellness can be sustainable.
Whether it’s through a relaxing yoga class, a stroll with therapy dogs or a quiet moment in a massage chair, campus rec is proving itself to be a powerful force in response to the mental health crisis on college campuses.
