Students at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) asked for it, and they got it.

The university recently added a state-of-the-art wellness center to improve health and physical fitness as well as increase the sense of community on campus.

“The cool thing is the whole project was the result of a student-led initiative,” said AUM Chancellor John Veres. “Representatives from our Student Government Association approached me in 2008 expressing a desire for a wellness center where they could work out as well as meet their friends and have fun.”

Students approved increasing their activity fees to help fund the effort. They took part in focus groups during the planning stages of the facility, giving them a voice in the features included in the new center.

As part of its support of education and its efforts to promote health and wellness, the Alabama Power Foundation partnered with AUM and its students by providing a grant to ensure the ongoing growth of the center. AUM opened in 1969 and currently has about 4,225 undergraduate and 764 graduate students.

“At its core, the foundation’s mission is to help make Alabama a better place to live,” said Southern Division Vice President Leslie Sanders, who presented the grant to AUM. “I think this wellness center will accomplish that goal. The center will not only help improve the health and well-being of students, alumni and faculty, but it will be an effective recruitment tool for the university because of its convenient location.”

Prominently situated at the campus entrance, the center opened its doors on Aug. 13, 2012, at the start of the fall semester.

With a sleek, modern design, the 73,000-square-foot, two-story building is packed with recreational and fitness equipment. It features a pool, two multipurpose basketball courts, a zip line, a weight room, a track and a rock-climbing wall, with beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

The center has the latest cardio exercise equipment, including treadmills, upright and recumbent bicycles, stair-steppers and elliptical machines. There is a juice bar where students can relax after a workout and purchase a fruit drink or healthy snack.

The center is headquarters to the Physical Education and Exercise Science departments. This portion of the center houses two classrooms, research labs and the intramural sports office.

“The center provides a great opportunity for our exercise science students to get hands-on experience with customers by leading Zumba, yoga, Pilates and other fitness classes. We also get our sports management students involved in the operations of the center and its programs,” Veres said.

“This is a win-win for us and the students,” he said. “It not only gives them experience that will help prepare them for their careers, but it provides us with people working at the center who are passionate about fitness and healthy living.”

In-depth research is being conducted on topics such as range of motion, hydrostatic weigh-ins, oxygen consumption and the use of X-rays to measure body components.

“The center offers a blend of academic and applied learning, as well as fun for students who can just go in and shoot hoops or swim when they feel like it,” Veres said.

Although there are many facets to the facility, AUM is looking ahead to the future, Veres said. The Alabama Power Foundation grant is supporting a quasi-endowment, which will generate funding for repairs in coming years. The fund will also help pay for the next phase of construction, which will include multiuse courts for badminton, tennis and other sports.

“We are not only excited to receive this gift from the Alabama Power Foundation, but we’re pleased that your company has endorsed our institution,” Veres said. “As our student population grows, we want to make sure there’s room for all of them to enjoy the wellness center. The funding we have received from the Alabama Power Foundation will help us as we expand to meet those needs.”

By Carla Davis