Ursinus has created the Collaborative Commission on Well-being to create and implement a Blueprint for Well-being for the campus community - to ensure the health of people, place, and the planet are prioritized.
There are 33 faculty and staff members on the Commission from all across campus. They meet every other month to review data, evaluate efforts, and advise the College on systems-based approaches for enhancing well-being. The above image showcases the belief statements and goals.
If you are a faculty member or staff member - please reach out by emailing one or both of the Co-Chairs:
Interested in joining the Collaborative Commission? We’d love to have you.
Want to see the specific KPIs and consider how it impacts your work? We’d love to share it with you.
If you have questions about how you can enhance well-being on campus from your perspective, we’d love to discuss strategies for building systems that support well-being in the classroom, on your team, in your office, and everywhere across campus. We’d love to set up a consultative appointment.
Ursinus is a Health Promoting Campus and became the first Liberal Arts College, and 11th college in the nation, to adopt the Okanagan Charter in October 2022.
What is the Okanagan Charter?
In June 2015, the University of British Columbia co-hosted the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges at the Okanagan campus, bringing together participants from 45 countries, representing both educational institutions and health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO.
Over three days, these organizations collaborated on the development of the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges.
The Okanagan Charter provides institutions with a common language, principles and framework to become a ‘health and wellbeing promoting campus’ and outlines two Calls to Action:
To embed health into all aspects of campus culture, across the administration, operations and academic mandates;
To lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally
Ursinus College is committed to the health and well-being of our community.
The Two Calls to Action from the Okanagan Charter guide Ursinus’ approach and are the foundations of creating well-being for our community. Ursinus College is committed to the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff.
By adding your name to the pledge, you agree that Ursinus College should commit to this Charter and you pledge to be an active participant in creating well-being for our community.
Learn More
Ursinus is a member of the US Health Promoting Campuses Network: Learn more here.
There are over 200 institutions in the Network who are working towards adopting the charter.
Ursinus became the first liberal arts college to adopt the charter in Fall 2022. See list of colleges here
Read thefull length reportof the Okanagan Charter to understand it’s intent and impact.
Ursinus College is the first liberal arts institution in the world to sign the international Okanagan Charter, signifying a holistic commitment to the well-being of people, places, and planet. Two stories in this issue examine how a liberal arts education contributes to a sustainable future.
For Everyone: University of Michigan has a great Well-being Toolkit that is available for all to use.
