Francis Marion University has established the ARCH Project (Advancing Rural Community Health) to provide a variety of health awareness services in rural communities including health screenings, health awareness seminars, and lifestyle education programs. Under the direction of a staff physician, Francis Marion University students enrolled in programs leading to careers involving health care, mental health, social work, and related fields will be involved in providing these services, with emphasis in rural communities in the Pee Dee Region. The programs and services will be provided in community-based venues, including schools, community centers, community activities, churches, civic organizations, and other appropriate locations. 

Additionally, the ARCH Project will include numerous internship sites in a variety of rural areas that provide students the opportunity to participate in a paid internship, allowing them to engage in experiential learning while contributing to historically under-served areas. 

By implementing the ARCH program, Francis Marion University hopes to: 

1. Increase the level of access to health screenings and level of awareness of health related issues in the rural areas of the Pee Dee Region at the community level. Through screenings, educational activities, and referrals, it is desired that prevention activities and treatment rates will increase. Additionally, the program will provide support to existing rural health related services via student internships. 
2. Provide opportunities for students enrolled in programs leading to health related and community assistance professions to be involved in service-learning projects focusing on community health in a rural area. Exposure to this aspect of the health care profession will increase the likelihood of these future health care and community assistance professionals to consider practicing in these areas of high need. 
3. Provide an opportunity for students with financial need to participate in a meaningful service-learning program that provides a stipend. 

Student involvement in the ARCH project via health screenings, healthy lifestyle demonstrations, and placement in rural health service providers not only supports these historically underserved areas, but allows students to engage in applied learning opportunities in venues that are often overlooked.