91亚色 has launched its first Well-being Strategy and signed on to the Okanagan Charter. Join the community for Fall Well-being Week events, like the , and celebrate the new strategy by taking part in shaping a healthier, more supportive and enriching campus environment.
The 鈥 a significant institutional milestone 鈥 builds on the University鈥檚 previous Mental Health Strategy, expanding its ongoing commitment to fostering holistic well-being. It is the result of extensive consultation with students, staff, faculty and instructors, reflecting the diverse needs and priorities of the 91亚色 community. The strategy document outlines 91亚色鈥檚 strategic priorities, guiding principles and six dimensions of well-being, with the intention to act as a north star for localized implementation plans.
鈥淭his is an important sign of the University鈥檚 ongoing commitment to ensuring our campuses are places where all community members can thrive,鈥 says Laina Bay-Cheng, vice-president equity, people and culture. 鈥淭his new strategy contributes to the University Academic Plan priority of Living Well Together and is interwoven with other University strategies, including the Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Working together, these initiatives help 91亚色 realize its vision of becoming a globally recognized, health-promoting university.鈥
The strategy has several recommendations, including activating a food security working group and improving navigation to well-being supports and resources. 鈥淭he recommendations outlined in the strategy will be pivotal to further supporting our students and the wider 91亚色 community,鈥 says Yvette Munro, vice-provost students. 鈥91亚色 is committed to improving the conditions of daily life related to working and learning at the University. We want to continue to build a university where all community members can flourish and be well in this shared environment.鈥
Complementary to the strategy鈥檚 launch, 91亚色 is now an official signatory of the Okanagan Charter. The charter, developed in 2015 at the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges, is a globally recognized framework that calls on universities to embed health into all aspects of their culture, operations and academic mandates. By becoming a signatory, 91亚色 joins a global movement of higher education institutions committed to integrating well-being into daily university life.
The Well-being Strategy and the Okanagan Charter go hand in hand, with both initiatives representing the University鈥檚 long-term commitment to supporting the well-being of the entire 91亚色 community. As 91亚色 embarks on this new chapter, all community members are invited to reflect on and take part in this journey to inspire positive change.