Cross Cultural Diversity | Wellness Initiative | Work-Life

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Cross-Cultural Diversity   (website)

We would like to invite student organization leaders to participate in a exciting effort to continue to promote better understanding and relationships among the diverse students in our campus community. The goal of Student Affairs Cross-Cultural Programming Series is very simple: we want to encourage you to work with students across cultural differences. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.

We recognize that is not as easy as it sounds and have constructed this program to guide your experience. Once you have identified the program and the organization(s) that you are interested in collaborating with, to the extent our budget allows, we will fund portions of your programming efforts that meet this goal.

Question – what do these groups have in common: The Latino Student Union, Pan-Hellenic Council, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance, Inter fraternity Council, La Unidad Latina, Pan-Hellenic Association, Dorchester International House and Lambda Theta Alpha? These were but some of the groups that benefit from this program.

Programming efforts should be scheduled for the Spring Semester. For best consideration of your proposal, complete this application and return it soon to:

CHANDRA BISNATH
Office of Vice President for Student Affairs
2108 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742

Please note that this program is not just a funding source, but a vehicle for us to cross the cultural boundaries that divide us as a community. We are challenging you to reach out and get involved with students who are not like yourselves. Among you are future leaders of our country and current leaders of our campus who will benefit greatly from this initiative. We hope you take advantage of this wonderful learning opportunity.

Wellness Initiative   (website coming soon)

Wellness is a concept that encourages individuals to take responsibility for good decisions about their health and well-being (Wellness Task Force Report, March 2008). In 2007 the Vice President for Student Affairs, Linda Clement, invited a cross-divisional group of individuals to explore the idea of making wellness a priority for our campus. The "Wellness Task Force" recommended pursuing a campus wellness initiative by developing a coalition of key stakeholders who would serve on work groups moving us strategically toward a healthier campus. Dr. Clement agreed that our campus should work to become a healthy place for students, faculty, and staff to live, learn, and work. Dean Gold of the School of Public Health has agreed to partner with us on this effort.

Student Affairs and health professionals have long understood there is a relationship between student health and academic achievement. The Wellness Initiative is based on the belief that healthy students, faculty, and staff are more likely to achieve the ambitious goals set forth in the campus strategic plan. Together with the School of Public Health and others on our campus, the Division of Student Affairs hopes to create a culture where the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle is valued, and all members of the university community are encouraged to take responsibility for choosing to be well.

The Wellness Coalition convened in January 2009 to identify priorities and set strategic goals for the Wellness Initiative. The coalition is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from over 23 departments and student organizations within the University and is co-chaired by Barbara Aiken (Campus Recreation Services) and Tracy Zeeger (University Health Center).

Our Mission: To establish a campus environment that supports the development and maintenance of a healthy mind, body, and spirit for all members of the university community.

Wellness Initiative committee members can be found on the Student Affairs Staff Listings & Committees page.

• Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Wellness Coalition Work Groups

1.  The Assessment and Data Analysis group develops and maintains an ongoing collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health and wellness related data to guide the agenda of the Wellness Initiative.
   • Assessment and Data Analysis Meeting Minutes
2.  The Programming group identifies and coordinates health and wellness programs offered on campus, develops and implements events and programs to address identified needs and health priorities, and evaluates programs on behalf of the coalition.
   • Program Group Meeting Minutes
3.  The Policies & Practices group identifies and reviews policies, procedures, practices, campus environment, and infrastructure that might inhibit or otherwise create barriers to engaging in healthy behaviors and participation in wellness programs and advocates for change as appropriate.
   • Policies & Practices Group Meeting Minutes
4.  The Public Relations & Communications group guides the Wellness Initiative’s overall communication and public relations efforts, including the development of the program’s brand identity and creating/managing the program’s web presence.
   • Public Relations & Communications Group Meeting Minutes

Once the work groups are organized, they will focus on three identified health priorities for our campus:

•  Increasing physical activity levels
• Reducing overweight and obesity levels
•  Improving mental health and reducing stress

For more information on the Wellness Initiative or to express interest in joining the Wellness Coalition, contact Barbara Aiken (baiken@umd.edu) or Tracy Zeeger (zeeger@health.umd.edu).

Work-Life Integration   (website in progress)

All Student Affairs employees have multiple roles, priorities, and challenges – as staff members, as partners, as parents, as children, and/or as members of communities.

The Division of Student Affairs strives to facilitate the integration of work and life outside of work for all staff members in order to provide fulfilling work experiences and obtain maximum staff productivity.

The Division is embarking on a Work-Life Integration initiative to enhance its work environments and to ensure its work cultures are staff-friendly and on the forefront in the area of work-life integration practices.

The Student Affairs Work-Life Committee pursuing this initiative has representation from every department min the Division.

Please see the website in progress and contact your departmental representative or Brooke Supple or Maria Lonsbury for more information. Let us know how we can better facilitate your personal integration of work and life outside of work!

Work-Life committee members can be found on the Student Affairs Staff Listings & Committees page.