New wellness initiative invests in community partnerships, offers new mental health services, and provides spaces for fitness, yoga, and other wellness classes

Albion College, one of the top 50 innovative liberal arts colleges in the country, announced today the launch of their new Integrated Well-being Program, which focuses on expanding free access to wellness services, building a campus that supports mental and physical well-being, and forging additional community health partnerships. Albion College President Dr. Mathew Johnson made the announcement.

College campuses across the country are in the midst of a mental health crisis. A new study from the National Academy of Sciences found that 61% of college students surveyed were at risk of clinical depression, two times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Albion’s new Integrated Well-being Program addresses this crisis head on with a full staff of dedicated wellness promoters that will shape the Albion community into a national model for on-campus wellness.

“Historically, anxiety, depression and academic pressure have been common presenting problems on every college campus. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated those factors,” said Johnson. “We need to invest boldly this year in our people, our campus and our community. We need to create the best, and healthiest, college community in the nation: a college community where every student feels that they belong, and that they have the tools they need to thrive. We’re doing everything in our power to be a part of the solution, and that means making health and wellness resources more accessible and inclusive for our students.”

Albion is expanding free access to wellness services, including 24/7 medical and mental health telecare at school or at home through their telehealth website, AlbionCare, in addition to counseling services on campus. Students will also have access to Albion alumni mentors who are trained to support sustained and deep relationships. Wellness services also include expanded financial advising, nutrition counseling, academic coaching, accessibility services, academic and emotional peer mentoring to support students, and a new campus ministry approach to provide spiritual support for students from all faiths or none.

Albion is working to create a network of informed parents and family members who seek to foster student success and create bonds to increase opportunities for all students. The Albion College Family Leadership Committee, an initiative composed of parents and family members of current students and recent graduates, will enable the Albion community to draw on the voices and leadership of parents and families to support Albion’s students more holistically. This new program is sponsored by a generous donor.

Albion has committed to building a campus that supports both mental and physical well-being. They recently unveiled the Serra Wellness Complex, a new 11,000-square-foot activity center that provides new spaces for fitness, yoga and other wellness classes. Across campus, Albion is investing in major universal design principles to maximize natural light in all buildings, expand green spaces, add outdoor teaching and learning areas, and increase pedestrian-friendly features and city connectors.

Albion’s new partnership with the Battle Creek Family YMCA will expand wellness activities on and off campus, and students can participate in designated YMCA programs for free. The College is also building a partnership with Summit Pointe that will provide access to urgent mental health care, and Albion Healthcare Alliance and the Community Table of Albion to provide students with health navigation services and engage students in addressing food security issues in the community and on campus.

Albion is also continuing partnerships with Calhoun County Health Department of Public Health and Henry Ford Allegiance to provide students access to health and medical services. Albion’s existing partnership with Oaklawn Hospital, which provides urgent care and a medical practice for the campus and the community, remains.

For more information on Albion’s new Integrated Well-being Program, visit albion.edu/well-being.

Albion College is a private liberal arts college of approximately 1,500 students and is nationally recognized for its academic excellence in the liberal arts tradition, a learning-centered commitment and a future-oriented perspective. The College is a leader in preparing students to anticipate, solve and prevent problems in order to improve the human and global condition. Albion immerses students in the creation and processing of knowledge and graduates skilled architects of societal change, active citizens and future leaders. The College is dedicated to the highest quality in undergraduate education and is committed to diversity as a core institutional value.

Albion, Michigan is a culturally diverse community in the south-central part of the state. The College recognizes the value of community, both on- and off-campus and has invested resources in supporting the revitalization of the greater Albion community. This work offers an increasingly vibrant city around the campus that provides students with a fuller experience as they prepare to become engaged citizens in their own communities. For more information, visit albion.edu.