The concept of wellness is not at all new. A healthy campus community values the well-being of students and understands that it is critical to student success, degree completion, and producing successful alumni. As demonstrated by several institution of higher education collegiate recreation is well positioned to significantly impact those students struggling with health and behavior challenges by leading an integrated approach to embedding health and well-being as core pillars of university culture.
Many wellness models exist; while they share the same premises but often have differing numbers of dimensions with a varied array of labels. Simply, wellness is an expansion of the idea of health. Just because one is absent of any illness symptoms does not make one “well.” Fahey, Insel, and Roth (2001) suggest that “Wellness is the ability to live life fully with vitality and meaning.” This approach requires that we are proactive, intentional, and committed to our development responsibilities. Additionally, no one wellness dimension stands alone. Dimensions of wellness interact with each other and all must be attended to in order for us to move toward and enhanced state of well-being in our campus community.
Members of the division of Student Affairs as well as other campus and community partners use this model as a guide for our work. We seek to offer programs and services that assist students in their holistic development.
How well are you?The ability to identify physical and psychological needs, manage a range of emotions and be aware of the physical body’s needs, limitations, and potential.
The ability to create harmony in one’s relationships with others, demonstrate effective communication skills, develop the capacity for healthy intimacy and cultivate a support network of caring friends and/or family members.
The ability to explore of one’s own background, appreciate the diversity and richness present in one’s own culture and within the culture of others.
The ability to relate to and connect with others, contribute to the common welfare of society through service to others and address the relationship between an individual and members of various communities.
The ability to develop self efficacy and discipline leading to the effective management of resources to meet the challenges of daily life.
The ability to explore personal beliefs and values helping to add direction and connectedness to life.
The ability to problem solve, explore creative expression, adopt new ideas, think critically and pursue topics of personal interest.
