Members of the College of Education and Health Professions go on a “WE CARE On the Go'' guided walk.
The College of Education and Health Professions' culture of caring is one of the three priorities of Dean Kate Mamiseishvili's WE CARE strategic plan, which empowers students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to succeed in all aspects of life. is given.
WE CARE On the Go helps advance our priorities by encouraging university faculty, staff, and graduate assistants to engage and grow their bodies and minds during work hours. This new initiative will promote physical and mental health in the workplace, as well as create opportunities for engagement and camaraderie among colleagues.
Yoga, mindfulness sessions, guided campus walks and more are part of the WE CARE On the Go program throughout April. During each activity, participants are encouraged to unplug and focus on their physical and mental health.
A few weeks into this new initiative, those using the programming have reported significant positive changes in their work hours.
“The highlight for me is connecting with colleagues outside of the office,” said Lauren Selby, assistant director of development.
“At the end of the day, we are a caring professional college, so it’s important that we make an effort to take care of ourselves,” she added.
“We love it,” said Stacey Stewart, the university's associate dean for research and grants management. “As a manager, it's great to feel empowered to incorporate physical activity into your day and encourage your employees to do the same.”
Erin Howie Hickey, associate professor of exercise science and faculty advisor for the Exercise Is Medicine Campus, is working with a team of graduate students to implement a university-wide step challenge throughout this month. .
Faculty and graduate assistants were placed into teams according to their department to see who could accumulate the most steps by the end of the month. Friendly competition encourages walking meetings and short walking breaks during the day.
Nick Bellegarde, currently a doctoral student in counselor education, is one of the many people leading this month's activities. He leveraged his expertise to help expand programs covering mental health and led his Mindfulness Walk through campus during the April 8 total solar eclipse.
“Learning how to cultivate mental well-being through mindfulness is an important skill,” he said. “If everyone could focus on their mental health in this way, even just five minutes a day, they would find themselves feeling less stressed and more joyful and happy.”
Associate Dean for Administration Paul Calleja, who has spearheaded the movement and led several activities, said university students will continue to prioritize their physical and mental health even after WE CARE On the Go officially ends this year. I hope so.
“We want to build habits and help people have success experiences,” Calleja said. “Of course, it's important to be active during the day, but it's equally important to see yourself accomplishing your goals, as this will motivate you to keep moving forward and build a positive foundation.”
About the College of Education and Health Professions: The six academic departments in the College of Education and Health Professions prepare students for a variety of careers in education and health professions. In addition to its long-standing role of training educators and educational leaders, the college also trains nurses, speech-language pathologists, public health professionals, recreation and sports professionals, counselors, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, and exercise scientists. We are training.
