Useful perks at Fanshawe College

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When we think about college our thoughts go to our potential workload, grades, and even the new relationships that can be built during our time at school. However, there is more to Fanshawe College than meets the eye, and this guide will help to find some of the lesser-known programs, supports and benefits that the school offers.

The Sharing Shop

A program that assists full-time students in need with cleaning supplies, food and toiletries. Students are able to receive donations from the program three times per semester. The program receives donations from outside sources, as well as students and faculty. The Sharing Shop takes up residence at SUB1015, and operates on a schedule determined by volunteer availability. More info about the program can be found at fsu.ca/the-sharing-shop. Also, donations can be made at the FSU office located at SC1000, as well as at SUB1015.

Health and Dental Plan The Fanshawe Student Union provides a student health and dental plan for all full-time students. There are customizable options regarding which kind of coverage better accommodates your lifestyle. There is also an option to get coverage for dependents, if your situation calls for it. There is a health and wellness component to the health plan that can be found on the wespeakstudent.com website. This component gives direction to supportive resources in and around the city pertaining to a variety od different issues that may afflict or concern you.

Counselling and Accessibility Services

Sometimes you can anticipate needing help, and other times you cannot. Fanshawe College has various counselling programs and services that can help alleviate some of those burdens. These services are confidential and offered in a variety of different ways from face to face individual or group sessions, online tools to help you identify potential issues, and anonymous chat lines, by way of telephone, to name a few. Services exist to support academic, career, personal, women’s safety and mind, body and soul concerns. Counselling and Accessibility Services can be found at room F2010 in F building.

Campus Recreation

Fanshawe College boasts the largest collegiate intramurals program in the province. With an emphasis of activity creation that reflects student demand, Fanshawe provides opportunities for activities such as cricket, table tennis, badminton, volleyball, soccer and more. These opportunities are designed as ‘drop-in’ activities that students can participate in when they have the time. There are also extramurals, which act as a kind of varsity team for sports that the College doesn’t participate in on an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association level. These sports require a tryout to make the team, and offer a different type of competitive experience, as games are played against other participating colleges and universities.

Student Wellness Centre

The services and programs available here are greater than the obvious accessibility to the gyms and work out centre on the second floor. There are a variety of different exercise classes offered weekly, as well as the expert advice of personal trainers who are available for one on one sessions. To help assist in improving your physical health and strength, there are also nutritional intake professionals available.

If exercise and nutrition aren’t your number one focus, there are other opportunities to take advantage of like the Wellness Centre’s rock climbing wall, massage therapy and access to the Carling Heights swimming pool on 656 Elizabeth St. The Wellness Centre is truly focused on helping to improve the mind, body and soul of the student body.

There are also squash courts, a golf simulator, an on campus pharmacy and the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, whose services include sports and exercise medicine, counselling for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and birth control, mental health counselling, TB testing and immunizations.