University Health and Wellbeing Exercise is Medicine on Campus: Peer Connection in Health Advocacy
By Catherine Anger
Starting a new exercise routine can be daunting, but having a support system in place can go a long way. SPARTANfit, the fitness and wellness program through University Health and Wellbeing (UHW), started recruiting student volunteers as physical activity mentors in 2024. These mentors, previously only interns and student employees, support fellow students seeking exercise counseling on campus.
“Our role is to ensure that those who want to receive exercise guidance feel welcome,” says Angela Maniaci, fitness and wellbeing coordinator. Maniaci joined the UHW team in 2024 to oversee SPARTANfit programming. “I wanted to bring a more approachable aspect to it, to offer to students of all majors to be able to mentor.”
SPARTANfit primarily serves the MSU community. Under this umbrella, ACTIVE Spartans matches students seeking exercise guidance with peer physical activity mentors. By offering this mentorship position as a volunteer opportunity, Maniaci aims to increase capacity for peer counseling and train new volunteers in active listening, setting exercise wellness goals, and breaking stigma around starting new exercise journeys.
“Exercise is really intimidating to a lot of people,” says Maniaci. According to the 2024 University Health and Wellbeing Plan, 16% of undergraduate and 19% of graduate student survey respondents indicated they did not regularly engage in physical activity. “Your support system will directly influence your health habits and outcomes. Student mentors can connect with other students; they understand what they’re going through.”
2025 marks MSU’s 10th year as a Gold Level Campus with Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC). This initiative through the American College of Sports Medicine calls for colleges and universities to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. To attain this status, colleges and universities must host campuswide physical activity options and events, implement Physical Activity Vital Sign assessments, and offer referrals to institution-provided exercise counseling.
“That takes collaboration, communication, and commitment from all of the parties involved,” Maniaci says. As a Gold Level Campus, MSU represents the highest standard of collaboration around and support for exercise wellness programs, in part because of referrals to ACTIVE Spartans and UHW’s work to connect students with resources and activities.
MSU’s commitment to promoting physical activity and health extends beyond campus as well. One event supported by the physical activity mentors and the EIM-OC registered student organization was the 9th annual Healthy Homecoming Walk in fall 2024. Open to the campus and East Lansing communities, participants walked one lap, or a quarter of a mile, to learn more about EIM-OC and earn free water bottles, shirts, and other gear. Maniaci would like to develop additional programs and events around exercise open to the Greater Lansing community.
Students interested in volunteering as a physical activity mentor can register through the ACTIVE Spartans website or SpartansVolunteer. The Exercise is Medicine on Campus RSO accepts new members to support exercise advocacy and community events.
