A Healthy Campus
What is a Healthy University approach?
A Healthy University aspires to create a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances health, wellbeing and sustainability of its community and enables people to achieve their full potential. This means combining healthy policies, in a healthy environment with complementary education programs and initiatives.
Working definitions/ what we mean by health, well-being and wellness
· Health - Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO)
· Well-being – a student’s ability to thrive, respond to difficult circumstances, and create and constructively engage with other people and the world around them.
· Wellness - The state or condition of being in good physical and mental health
What would a Healthy Ryerson Campus look like?
- RU students and staff engaged in an exploratory process to determine links between programs/services/policies and student health, well-being and wellness
- RU recognises the importance of student engagement and participation in the creation of healthy and sustainable healthy campus
- RU Teaching and Learning increases the profile of health, wellbeing and sustainable development in teaching, research and knowledge exchange
- RU students, staff and senior management consciously consider the impact that policies/services/curriculum/facilities have on student health, well-being and wellness
- RU would ensure that health and wellbeing are connected to the university core business through embedding at the policy/planning level
- RU extends their motto of “Everyone Makes a Mark” to encourage widespread engagement /ownership and collaboration across the university and external partners to enhance health, well-being and wellness.
What are our vision and mission?
VISION:
A university community that is fully committed and engaged in developing and sustaining supportive environments that foster health and academic success.
MISSION:
- To be a catalyst for the Ryerson community to create its own healthy and supportive environment
- To be recognized and valued by students and staff as the unit that inspires and supports effective health promotion practice on campus
These can be achieved by adopting a whole system or Healthy University approach.
How the community can help create a Healthy Campus:
Administrators
- Consider how health and well-being are impacted in decisions, policies, and processes.
- Lend your support and commitment to initiatives and programs that enhance health and well-being.
- Help create an organizational culture that supports the health & well-being of students, staff, and faculty.
- Share with us what you’re already doing to support well-being and if or how we can help.
- Let us know your ideas about how RU could work together to create a healthier campus community.
Faculties
- Consider how your faculty plays a role in impacting health and well-being.
- Have programs and supports in place to help students’ foster meaningful social connections and enhance other aspects of well-being.
- Have classroom and grading policies that help maintain challenge while reducing competitiveness and stress.
- Help create a culture that supports student health and well-being.
Instructors/TA
- Consider student well-being in designing courses and curriculum.
- Foster a supportive and welcoming classroom culture.
- Help students create meaningful social connections in the classroom.
Staff
- Understand how your program or department impacts student health and well-being.
- Consider student health & well-being in developing programs and services.
- Help students form meaningful social connections with staff, faculty and peers.
- Help students seek appropriate support when needed.
- Contribute to a supportive campus culture.
Students
- Join or initiate programs that impact well-being.
- Become an advocate for student health & well-being.
- Help create a welcoming and supportive RU community.
- Let us know what we can do better to support your well-being.