Goal 2: Well-being Strategic Plan

Provide a holistic and collaborative approach toward well-being to creating and promote a healthy campus community in which to live, learn, teach, play, work, and visit.

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  • 2.1 Mental Health and Well-being Task Force

    Appoint a Well-being Task Force charged with outlining a well-being strategic plan that will imbed health and wellness as a core pillar of University culture. The JED Campus program is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation (JED) designed to guide schools through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, program and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention efforts. JED Campus schools embark on a multi-year strategic partnership with JED that not only assesses and enhances the work that is already being done, but helps create positive, lasting, systemic change in the campus community.

    Complete – Have joined the JED Campus Program to help guide us through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, program and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention efforts. A Well-being Task Force was convened in April 2018, and JED Campus visit in June 2018.  Sub-committees were formed to make progress on the 73 action steps with their work completed in spring of 2019.  Healthy Minds survey completed fall of 2018 to be used as a baseline for measuring progress with a follow up survey scheduled for fall 2021. 

  • 2.2 Athletics Collaboration

    Meet with Athletic Department administration to discuss ideas and strategies for collaborative efforts aimed at improving communication, furthering integration of health and wellness services and avoiding duplication of programs and resources.

    Travel Clinic – Recommend Athletics be included in Student Health Center travel clinic pilot program for teams participating in international travel. Envision offering a group visit for this type of travel, as do many other universities.

    Wellness Coaching – Recommend Athletics identify at least one staff member to become a certified wellness coach. The cost of certification and annual fees will be covered in Recreation and Wellness budget. This person will collaborate and communicate with other certified wellness coaches and will provide wellness coaching services to Athletes only. 

    085 Alcohol EDU/Haven - Recommend Athletics identify at least one staff member to be trained to teach 085 Alcohol EDU/Haven. This will ensure the representative of the Athletic department is informed of current alcohol and sexual assault education and provide continuity with the language, messages, and education students are receiving.

    Progress – Have been in numerous conversations and meetings with Athletics administration to discuss strategies to improve collaboration, specifically in our plans for the new Well-being Center to seize this opportunity to explore ways we can take advantage of the co-location with Athletics to provide more convenient and better health care services for student athletes. Associate Athletics Director, Lauren Wicklund, has been a key partner with plans for her to be a certified wellness coach and 085 instructor.

  • 2.3 Mindfulness and Meditation

    Recommend provider greater administrative and financial support for mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is defined as non-judgmental awareness in the present lived experience. The mind tends to swing from the past (regret or depression) to the future (worries or anxiety) often precipitating depression and anxiety, while interfering with our ability to focus on and enjoying what’s happening in the present moment.

    Progress – Have created a mindfulness website with all campus mindfulness programs. Mindfulness and meditation are a key focus of Well-being Center with mind body studio, meditation garden, and relaxation lounge.

  • 2.4 Meditation Gardens

    Although the University of Richmond does not currently designate any meditation gardens, four locations have been identified that can be considered meditation gardens. Recommending there be a study of these spaces to develop a strategic plan to designate these locations as meditation gardens, educate the campus community about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, promote and bring visibility to these locations, and improve and enhance some of the spaces in need of restoration.

    ✓ Garden of Five Lions (to include replacing the missing Lion)

    ✓ Sarah Brunet Courtyard (to include adding a labyrinth)

    ✓ Westhampton Deanery Garden (to include student art/sculpture)

    ✓ Keller Hall Garden (to include replacing the sundial)

    Progress - A group of key stakeholders have been meeting and providing input and support. Four gardens have been identified to be meditation gardens.  Consultants hired and gardens designed.  Project submitted to Facilities and two of the four meditation gardens were approved and scheduled for summer 2020.  Progress has been delayed due to COVID-19 taking priority.  Garden of the Five Lions completed in summer of 2021 and Westhampton Garden scheduled for summer 2022.

  • 2.5 Spiritual Well-being Pilgrimages

    Create two new pilgrimages, one over fall break and one over spring break, with an explicit wellness component. The fall break pilgrimage will focus on meditation and mindfulness. The spring break pilgrimage will be built around a 100km (62 mile) hike.

    Progress – Both trips successful and well attended in 2019, however cancelled in 2020 due to COVID.  Plans to circle back to re-group and determine how to best proceed. 

  • 2.6 Kognito

    Recommend implementation of Kognito online program At-Risk for University and College Faculty & Staff and At-Risk for College Students and Student Leaders. These highly interactive courses prepare users to recognize signs of psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. These research-proven courses are currently available on more than 750 campuses across the United States.

    Disregard – A preliminary review of Kognito with colleagues has been given mixed reviews and therefore hesitation to pursue this option.