SUNY Niagara opens new health & wellness center

SUNY Niagara press release & photo

Members of the SUNY Niagara board of trustees and the NCCC Foundation board of directors recently joined SUNY Niagara President Lloyd Holmes and Supervisor of College Nursing Services Cheri Yager to cut the ribbon officially opening the Health & Wellness Center at the college’s Sanborn campus. The new facility replaces an old one and provides a modern, comfortable space designed with students’ privacy at the forefront.

Yager said the center, for the first time, brings together staff and services supporting medical and mental health.

“We are so excited to take care of our students in this one space with the dignity and professionalism that they deserve,” she said.

Holmes credited Yager for the vision behind the new Health & Wellness Center and thanked the NCCC Foundation for its generosity in funding the construction.

“Cheri made a clear case for the importance of creating a space such as this. I’m proud of what this center is going to do,” Holmes said. “And I’m thrilled by the gracious contribution of the NCCC Foundation, $225,000, which was half of the project’s total cost.”

Planning for the center began in 2024. Construction followed in January of this year. The 4,000-square-foot facility houses both mental and medical care facilities in a single location where the staff can treat five students at once. Other features include waiting, conference and medical supply rooms, along with upgraded security measures such as cameras, and doors that require ID swipes to open.

Daniel Manzella, who is both a student and a trustee of the college, said students are sure to appreciate the facility’s thoughtful design.

“One of the best parts of the center is how spacious it is. That makes it very welcoming,” he said. “It’s also right across from the dining commons, which gives the new location great visibility. Students are going to love it.”