Student wellness is the theme for this year’s ETSU Student Success Symposium happening on March 27, which features education opportunities for all involved in student and community health.
This year’s focus on well-being stems from a recent perspective shift to student wellness, according to Jennifer Webb, assistant director for New Student and Family Programs. Webb said that issues can be overlooked and misunderstood.
“When [people] think of well-being, their immediate thought is either mental health or it’s physical well-being, and there’s so much more to it than just that,” said Webb.
The symposium will feature keynote speaker Nance Lucas, who is the executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Well-being at George Mason University. Lucas will speak on her findings at GMU, and how faculty can implement wellness programs here on ETSU’s campus.
Lucas and other educators will also meet with members of the ETSU administration to discuss and evaluate the efficiency of well-being programs in place on campus and to learn what more can be done.
After Lucas’ lecture, attendees will break out into varied education sessions like “Best Place to Work and Learn: Healthy Campus Initiatives at Cleveland State Community College” presented by Michele Wollert and Emily Alexander, which shares the best practices used on CSCC’s campus, including the Cleveland State 5-Year Plan.
“If you’re not familiar with well-being or what your campus is doing, whether it’s ETSU or an outside institution, it’s a great opportunity to hear from other areas about what they’re doing and what’s working well,” said Webb. “Our big goal is to hope that people that come to this walk away with something.”
The symposium is geared toward faculty and staff involved in student well-being and health, but registration is open to students and all higher education staff. Early registration is open until March 12 and is $35 for students and $50 for faculty and staff. After March 12, the price increases to $100 per person.
