Saint Mary's University Healthy Campus Strategy

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2 Saint Mary's University Healthy Campus Strategy 2019

SMU HEALTHY CAMPUS GOAL

Our goal is to foster an ongoing culture of physical and psychological health for all students, faculty, and staff by providing information, support, and opportunities; and by supporting individual health goals and challenges.

VISION

Saint Mary's University is committed to the physical and psychological health of all our students, faculty, and staff.

Saint Mary's University Healthy Campus Strategy 2019

BACKGROUND

Founded in 1802, Saint Mary’s University has become internationally recognized for its rich history of teaching and research excellence. The liberal education at the heart of the University shapes young people’s values and attitudes, and inspires all of us to build just and safe communities. At Saint Mary’s we engage in a culture of respect that supports civil dialogue and acknowledges diversity and cultural intersection. The University is committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment.

Saint Mary’s learning-centered environment brings our community together in a complementary pursuit of learning; it lays a foundation for broadened and more meaningful student, faculty, and staff interaction. At Saint Mary’s we are a learning organization where our staff are continuously learning through training opportunities. Our goal is to build on our strong tradition as a caring and close community providing excellent service stemming from fully engaged students, faculty, and staff.

Saint Mary’s University is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy working and learning environment for all faculty, staff, students and visitors. As outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022, a goal has been set to develop the Healthy Campus Initiative. There is a growing sense of commitment to work together on holistic health and wellness as a community. As aspiring global citizens, members of the Saint Mary’s community are called to champion the practice of healthier living for a healthier world. Student success requires a strong and comprehensive institutional commitment, focusing on academic excellence, discovery and innovation and the continued health and wellness of our students. Saint Mary’s success is defined by the degree to which our support systems and academic programs assist our students, faculty, and staff on their intellectual and personal journeys.

The implementation of this Strategy will build on current activities and initiatives as well as develop new initiatives and actions where there is identified need, interest, and convincing opportunities for improvement. The Strategy espouses the fostering of collaborations within the University and with external partners. It intends to inform as well as encourage and invite participation.

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TOGETHER WE WILL FOSTER AN ENGAGING AND SUPPORTIVE CULTURE THAT

PROMOTES RESPECT, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS.

Saint Mary’s is committed to:

Creating and maintaining a respectful, safe, supportive, and healthy environment

Promoting a collaborative, supportive learning culture that encourages and engages its members

Providing resources to enable individuals and groups to learn and engage in healthy behaviours

Providing opportunities to attain their individual health goals

Supporting each other in health and wellness endeavours

Saint Mary's University Healthy Campus Strategy 2019

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Supporting the inclusion of health and wellness as an area of academic study - teaching and research.

Collaborating and coordinating internally and externally to promote:

Access to information, programs and services

Awareness

Dialogue between members and groups in the campus community

Working, teaching and learning communities or groups at all levels that sustain and support healthy working, learning and living, leading to the evolution of grass roots initiatives across campus that engage individuals in healthy living and mutual support

Recognizing and celebrating health and wellness of individuals and communities

Embracing a holistic approach to health and wellness recognizing the intellectual, spiritual, financial, emotional, physical, social,occupational, and environmental aspects of health and wellness.

Translating the principles of health and wellness into concrete programs, activities and learning experiences with intentional focus and measurable directions to support achievement of individual and Saint Mary’s community health and wellness.

Encouraging all members of our campus community to pursue healthy, safe and balanced lifestyles.

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TOGETHER WE WILL FOSTER AN ENGAGING AND SUPPORTIVE CULTURE THAT

PROMOTES RESPECT, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS.

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How Can We Help Create a

Healthy Life for All?

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Healthy individuals come together as healthy groups within the larger Saint Mary’s community. By example and by individual and collective action, we together generate a healthier world.

Healthy Programs Healthy Culture Healthy Life

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HOLISTICALLY APPROACHING HEALTH AND WELLNESS – THE SAINT MARY’S PICTURE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Saint Mary’s Picture of Health and Wellness represents areas of focus for initiatives to enhance health and well-being among

the Saint Mary’s community.

Intellectual

Spiritual

Financial

EmotionalSocial

Occupational

Environmental

Physical

WELLNESS

This model provides a reference framework for the establishment of future programs, initiatives and learning experiences for holistic health and wellness within our three strategic themes: promotion, prevention, and support.

Prom

oti

on

Prevention S

upport

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Intellectual Wellness Be open-minded to new ideas and experiences that allow indivduals to to have a growth mindset to expand knowledge and skills.

Spiritual Wellness Have a positive perception of the meaning and purpose of life individually or through involvement with spiritual communities.

Financial Wellness Understand and manage your finances in a way that provides security, confidence, and options to support all aspects of your life now and in the future.

Emotional Wellness Be self-aware, accept and manage your feelings, thoughts, and attitudes – focus on having self-esteem and being resilient.

Physical Wellness Recognize the need for physical activity, sleep, and proper nutrition while being better informed about the use of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Choose a positive, respectful and safe approach to sexuality and relationships.

Social Wellness Develop positive and nurturing relationships and have a sense of community and belonging.

Occupational Wellness Prepare and make use of your skills and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness, and enrichment in all aspects of your life.

Environmental Wellness Embrace a positive perception and care for the environment that one works and lives in and participate in activities that protect the environment.

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STRATEGIC THEMES Three strategic themes for further initiatives and action in

health and wellness form the basis of the

Saint Mary’s Healthy Campus Strategy:

Promotion Prevention Support

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STRATEGIC THEMES Three strategic themes for further initiatives and action in

health and wellness form the basis of the

Strategic Theme 1:

PromotionSaint Mary's University is committed to providing a healthy work environment and to promote

a learning culture that encourages all members of our campus community to pursue healthy,

resilient, safe, and balanced lifestyles. The University will ensure that foundational supports are

in place to support the University’s holistic approach to health and wellness. The University will:

Adopt or adjust policies, practices and standards that support health and wellness in keeping with the strategy

Promote and provide programs and learning experiences that support individual and group health and wellness

Define and formalize wellness roles for members of the University whose positions provide them with the ability to positively influence others at the University

Establish, support and provide resources for the implementation of goals and objectives for specific health and wellness initiatives and activities with baselines and measures of impact for students, faculty, staff, and our community

Establish a communication plan to engage students, faculty, staff, and the community in the Saint Mary's Picture of Health and Wellness model and we will raise awareness of health and wellness so our campus community understands what optimal health means

Focus on health promoting messages to develop and maintain healthy spaces throughout the campus

Ensure that the University has a respectful and inclusive culture that reflects our Santamarian values and the wellness needs of our campus community

Reinforce the importance of personal resilience in the healthy life journey

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Strategic Theme 2:

PreventionSaint Mary’s University will strive to educate all members of the campus

community to recognize early warning signs that demonstrate an individual may

be experiencing challenges and require support. The University encourages all

of its members to embrace personal health and wellness opportunities as an

individual responsibility. The University will:

Encourage its members to be engaged, learn about lifestyle choices, make use of available resources, develop and maintain healthy habits, respect others’ needs and behaviours, and support others in their journey to health and wellness

Empower the campus community to take control of their health and wellness through training and self-management

Support its academic community to build on current strengths in research and teaching/learning related to health and wellness

Educate our students, faculty, and staff of the challenges individuals face so that we can reduce stigma and at the same time create the conditions for those individuals to seek and gain support

Offer programs and services that allow our campus community to develop the ability to manage their health and wellness both independently and with the support of others

Develop first-year experience programming to support student success

Provide proactive support and highlight programming and resources to support individuals at risk

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Strategic Theme 3:

SupportThe University will have supports in place that will empower all members of the campus community

to take ownership of their personal health and well-being. Saint Mary’s University’s core focus

will be promotion and prevention initiatives; however, the University will ensure the provision of

services, training, and critical support to its students, faculty, and staff in all aspects of their well-

being. Depending on the levels of support required by individuals, these services may be offered

internally through the various units responsible for the health and wellness of the University’s campus

community, or, in some cases external expertise may be required. Saint Mary’s recognizes the need to

have critical support services and training to help those in crisis. Therefore, the University will:

Create a system of support that is accessible and easy to navigate

Provide critical support services to the campus community in a timely and confidential manner

Provide training to identify those in crisis and how to respond in a timely and effective manner

Invest in train-the-trainer programming

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Saint Mary’s University is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. There are many wellness opportunities already available to support your health and well-being at Saint Mary's University. For example:

OH&S

Childcare on Campus

CN Centre for OH&S

Conflict Resolution

Centre for Sport & Health

Training

Prayer Space

Healthy Food

SMUSA Programming

Student Health Centre

Athletics & Recreation

Student Centre

Student Societies

Awareness Weeks

Employee Benefits

and Support

Indigenous Student Space

Safe and Respectful

Campus

Mental Health Awareness Training

Intercultural Learning

Curricular & Co-curricular

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As outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022, a goal has been set to develop the Healthy Campus Initiative.

Vision Saint Mary’s, building on its strong tradition of accessibility and community engagement,

will be the university of choice for aspiring citizens of the world.

Age Quod Agis

Discovery & Innovation in a Learning-centred Environment

Intercultural Learning

Institutional Sustainability

MissionThe mission of Saint Mary’s University is to offer undergraduate, graduate,

and life-long learning programs; to engage in research and disseminate its results; and to serve the community from the local to the international level.

ValuesOur values articulate our distinctive contribution to civil society, locally and globally. These values are

highlighted in the Santamarian Signature: Pursuing academic growth, Demonstrating resilience, Developing intercultural competence,

Engaging our alumni and community; and Exercising ethical wisdom

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