As colleges and universities around the country face extreme financial pressures, they also face mounting public expectations to improve and increase the quality and number of services they provide to their students. Some of these expectations include the presumption that the institutions will offer quality health care, fitness, and wellness services to complement the total student experience. One recent avenue used for addressing this expectation has been the collaborative enterprise between university health centers and university recreation and wellness centers and programs. Comprehensive student recreation and wellness centers have become a major component on today's college and university campuses. Universities expect these facilities to provide the "wow factor" for students; nevertheless, most traditional health centers have been viewed as a place to be avoided, unless the student is ill or injured. One viable strategy for combating this economic downturn is to encourage internal collaboration between student health centers and their campus wellness, recreation, and fitness counterparts. This collaboration can provide opportunities for these entities to develop programs, services, and facilities that will better serve their students' total well-being in these financially challenging times. (Contains 2 tables.)