Fayetteville State University (FSU) gathered the community together on Tuesday, July 29, to show some Bronco pride for a new partnership supporting a crucial addition to the University's campus. 

Cape Fear Valley Health (CFVH) has proudly committed $900,000 for the FSU Health and Wellness Center, already under construction in the gateway of the campus at the intersection of Murchison Road and Edgecombe Avenue Extension. 

In a special ceremony held at Seabrook Auditorium, the two organizations came together to highlight the new partnership and share details about the new facility. 

“As we all know, partnerships are not built overnight. They are outcomes of mutual interest, hard work, intentional conversations and an honest belief that what we are doing collectively is for the greater good,” shared FSU Chancellor Darrell T. Allison. “Today I stand before you to say that Cape Fear Valley Health, under the strong leadership of CEO Mike Nagowski, believes in the great er good, health and wellness and the work of FSU in doing what it takes to make sure that that is available to the greater community. 

The Health and Wellness Center is planned to be a 24,631 square-foot extension to the campus, and will feature a 7,500 square-foot fitness floor with a full range of equipment, yoga and dance studios, locker rooms, wellness offices and a retail pharmacy. The second floor, accessed via the pharmacy, will include physician offices, treatment and triage rooms, psychiatric services, a lab and welcoming waiting areas.

“This comprehensive facility will bring together multiple critical services under one roof, including Bronco wellness programs, a modern fitness and movement center, student health services and a full service pharmacy. Together, these services will create a centralized student-centered club for health, education, prevention, treatment and overall wellness. Students will learn and develop lifelong healthy skills and behaviors through our expanding Bronco wellness program,” shared Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Juanette Council. 

The planned pharmacy will also meet a great need for students on campus who currently have to find providers off campus to fill prescriptions.

“The new pharmacy will feature private counseling space designed for pharmacist-led education and chronic disease support, dedicated space for  

on site point of care, testing for flu, glucose and cholesterol, enabling timely pharmacist support interventions, a vaccination suite and expanded inventory capacity, including refrigeration and secure storage to support a broader range of medications,” continued Dr. Council. “Students will no longer have to choose between prioritizing their health and managing their academic responsibilities. They’ll be able to do both right here on campus.” 

The two-year commitment will support the construction and programming for the Center. 

“This is not a donation, this is an investment. You are training the next set of leadership for the next generation. It is all happening right here, and we’re grateful to be a part of it,” shared CFVH CEO Mike Nagowski. “This is not a one time transaction. This is a deep collaboration between two organizations that we think are bedrocks in our community, our 8,300 employees, that take care of over a million patient visits a year, could not do it without the support and quite honestly, the incredible workforce that’s built right here at FSU.”

The overall total cost of the project is $13.9 million and the facility is expected to open in March of 2026.