Campus Wellbeing Framework released

Campus Wellbeing Framework released

November 6, 2020

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A Campus Wellbeing Framework has been finalized by the Provost鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Wellness, and endorsed by the university鈥檚 Senior Leadership Team. 

It is the result of six months of consultations in 2019-20 with Queen鈥檚 students, staff, and faculty, and represents the shared wellbeing vision of more than 1,800 Queen鈥檚 community members who told the Campus Wellness Project team that campus wellbeing is rooted in a culture of care, inclusion and respect, social connectedness, the place we learn and work and in the multiple dimensions of personal health.  

鈥淭he pandemic鈥檚 impact on our community鈥檚 health and wellbeing has been profound,鈥 says Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Patrick Deane. 鈥淣ow, more than ever, we must be mindful of our campus culture, and ensure that we foster a sense of belonging for all our members.  We need social connection and we have been reminded daily of just how significant our health and wellbeing is for our community now and in the future. Sincere thanks to everyone involved and all community members who participated in the process.鈥 

The framework is an interrelated set of principles and priority focus areas to help, support and encourage a culture of wellbeing for all who live, learn, and work at Queen鈥檚. It aligns with the Okanagan Charter, which鈥Queen鈥檚 adopted in January 2019. The charter calls on post-secondary institutions to embed health and wellbeing in all aspects of campus culture, and to lead human and environmental wellbeing promotion action, locally and globally. 

In February, a draft framework was released to Queen鈥檚 students, staff and faculty for review and comment. Soon after, our concept of the idea of 鈥榗ampus鈥 was challenged and perhaps forever changed by the pandemic.  Over the Spring and Summer, the Queen鈥檚 community responded to the principal and provost鈥檚 requests for feedback with enthusiasm and support. Comments received have been incorporated into the final document. Specifically, students, staff and faculty continued to call on the university to advance an inclusive and diverse community where all community members feel welcomed, valued and respected. The 'Culture' section of the framework has been updated to more fully reflect these voices and align with the Queen鈥檚 Declaration of Commitment to Address Systemic Racism and the Principal鈥檚 Report on The Conversation

Some comments related to specific actions or tactics that promote campus wellbeing. These will be shared with cross-campus, cross-functional wellbeing working groups that will be struck to support implementation of each of the framework鈥檚 priority areas of action under the oversight of the Provost鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Wellness. Centralized co-ordination of health and wellbeing initiatives, plans and communications will drive the continued advancement of campus wellbeing, particularly as the university navigates the uncertainties of COVID-19 and its continued impacts on the community.  

Read the Campus Wellbeing Framework.