Engagement Through the Student Wellness Program Alissa Arnold & Lauren Tuttle

What is WellU ? WellU® is the WKU Student Wellness Program designed to engage students with campus programs and services that promote healthy lifestyles. Incentivizes students to be proactive about their health, where they can win prizes and scholarships by participating. How it is being utilized now…

Student Wellness = Student Success Data from ACHA-NCHA II Spring 2014 Spring 2016 - Stress 22.0% 26.3% Anxiety 17.1% 16.4% Sleep Difficulties 16.6% 16.3% Work 12.6% 13.1% Cold/Flu/Sore Throat 10.8% 9.3% According to the ACHA-NCHA data gathered every 2 years from HEP and WellU, we have a snapshot of the top factors affecting WKU student’s academic performance (such as received a lower grade on exam or course, received an incomplete or dropped a course, etc.) Students who are proactive about their health use the resources available to them and learn how to manage their stress are able to become more resilient and more likely to be successful in the future. Snapshot shows academic impediments and gives us an idea of how what areas we can help our students. If their not successful in the classroom, if will affect them in other aspects of their life as well. Conducted by: WKU Health Education & Promotion & WellU® 1,079 respondents; stratified random sample

Balancing the Dimensions of Wellness Engagement on campus has a positive impact on 1st year students’ grades and increases the chances of them returning the 2nd year! (Kuh, Cruce, Shoup, Kinzie & Gonyea, 2008) Source: The Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 79, No. 5 Studies have shown that the more 1st year students are engaged on campus, the more likely they are able to be retained and return the following year. WellU collaborates with several departments across campus with their programs/events that relate to the 8 dimensions of wellness: Physical, social, environmental, occupational, financial, spiritual, etc. Student can get involved with the different programs within WellU, and receive prizes and scholarships to further incentive to participate.

How Students Benefit from WellU Become connected on campus (organization, sports, etc.) Learn about resources or services they otherwise would not know or use (The Learning Center, Counseling & Testing, Office of Sustainability) Earn incentives and prizes A chance to win scholarships to assist with finances ($300, $500, up to $1,000) Learn health-related information and wellness tips Meet new people and make new friends Have fun!!

How Advisors benefit from WellU Advisors can: Request the WellU® team to present to their class Can be an administrator and make WellU® a part of class credit Encourage student to register/participate in WellU® if they are having trouble connecting on campus or financial struggles More ideas? Want to meet of the needs of the students

Thank you! Contact Us: Email: student.wellness@wku.edu Website: www.wku.edu/awellu Location: Preston Center, Health & Fitness Lab, 20a