Fayetteville State University is dedicated to meeting the needs of all students, and that includes comprehensive, integrated services to support each unique individual’s mental health journey.
The university recently celebrated the reopening of its newly renovated Spaulding Building, which houses the Center for Counseling and Accessibility Services. The primary mission of the Center for Counseling and Accessibility Services is to provide programs and outreach services to promote student engagement and assist in the emotional, psychological, physical and intellectual development of students with diverse backgrounds.
Students can access free individual, group, couples, and crisis counseling, as well as mental health and substance use evaluations. Services are confidential and provided by licensed clinical mental health staff.
Beyond one-on-one services, the university is investing heavily in campus-wide awareness. Fayetteville State University provides workshops, training, outreach and prevention programming to students to help normalize requesting help and to remind them that it is okay to not be okay. One of the ways the university works to reduce stigma surrounding mental health struggles is through peer-to-peer support. Data shows that students connect with other students, and these peers can serve as a liaison between students in need of help and the counseling center.
There are several peer programs that work with the counseling center directly. Mental Health Advocates are non-clinical, and they do not have access to students' records or student information, but they are provided with certified peer-educated training, specifically QPR. QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer and serves as a simple three-step procedure for preventing suicide.
Bronco Whole Collegiate Recovery Community Peer Allies also provide support to students undergoing treatment or seeking aid. The Bronco Whole CRC offers recovery-related meetings (i.e., 12-step meetings and SMART recovery) which are facilitated by a licensed counselor.
Bronco Wellness Ambassadors, under the leadership of the Bronco Health and Wellness director, help with emotional well-being as well as the other nine dimensions of wellness.
According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, the top three challenges students who seek mental health services are dealing with are generalized anxiety, depression and adjustment disorders. Students are never turned away. Whether they are having trouble adjusting to moving away from home, struggling with classes, in a difficult relationship, battling anxiety or depression or anything else, there is someone for them to talk to.
The new Center for Counseling and Accessibility Services building was intentionally designed to promote mental wellness among students. One highlight is the Bronco Mindspa or the relaxation room. Students can spend 30 minutes in this room decompressing without committing to a counseling session. The space is designed to engage four of the five senses: students can settle into a massage chair, listen to calming nature sounds, watch peaceful scenes like waterfalls on a screen and breathe in the scent of lavender from a diffuser. Yoga mats offer another option for students who prefer to stretch or simply lie on the floor.
Additionally, the center also features a calm room for students who are feeling emotionally dysregulated or overstimulated. This space is focused on reducing stimulation and helping students regulate their emotions through items like weighted lap pads, sensory toys with varied textures and noise-reducing headphones.
Students seeking psychiatric services to support their mental health are currently referred to off-campus providers by the Counseling team. Committed to addressing student needs, plans are underway to include psychiatric services within the new Student Health and Wellness Center. In the meantime, students who require financial assistance for appointments or prescriptions may request support through the Broncos Helping Broncos Student Emergency Fund.
At the heart of these initiatives is strong institutional backing from university leadership and a shared belief that students thrive when they are supported in every aspect of their lives. Through its new center and an array of innovative programs, Fayetteville State University is working to ensure that no student has to navigate their mental health journey alone.
To schedule a counseling appointment, students may call (910) 672-1222 or email
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At center, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and Juanette Council, Ed.D., vice chancellor for student affairs, cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand reopening of Fayetteville State University's newly renovated Spaulding Building, joined by campus leaders
FCEDC has officially moved its staff and operations to 611 W. Russell St. The 35,800- square-foot center was previously home to Homemakers Furniture and Interiors. Renovations began in the fall of 2025 and are expected to be completed in the next six to eight months. Currently, FCEDC staff are working within an open 7,500-square-foot floor plan as initial improvements progress.
