The College of the Holy Cross has joined an elite group of 22 higher education institutions in the United States that have adopted the Okanagan Charter, designating the College as a Health Promoting Campus and establishing it as a member of the United States Health Promoting Campuses Network (USHPCN). The adoption symbolizes Holy Cross’ commitment to embedding health and well-being into all aspects of campus culture and leading health promotion action at the College, in Worcester, and beyond.
Holy Cross President Vincent Rougeau signed the charter during a ceremony on Wednesday, April 3 at Worcester’s City Hall, joined by Mayor Joe Petty, City Manager Eric Batista and other city officials. The College is the first Worcester and the first Jesuit institution of higher education to adopt the Okanagan Charter.
“The health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is a top priority at Holy Cross. Our adoption of the Okanagan Charter and designation as a Health Promoting Campus will expand and deepen that commitment across the College,” said Rougeau. “We are guided by our mission and the Ignatian value of cura personalis—care for the whole person—to promote a healthy and safe environment for all. The support of our city partners will ensure that this important work will benefit our broader community for years to come.”
City Manager Eric D. Batista added: “I am proud of Holy Cross for its adoption of the Okanagan Charter, showcasing the school’s commitment to the health and well-being of its students and community. Colleges and universities are key community members and partners, and this adoption will help Holy Cross continue to build a campus that is embedded with the community in a thoughtful and principled manner.”
The charter has two calls to action: to embed health into all aspects of campus culture, across the administration, operations and academic mandates; and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. Created in June 2015, the charter provides institutions with a common language, principles and framework to become health and well-being promoting campuses.
“Adopting the Okanagan Charter builds upon the important work already being done on our campus, from the addition of substance-free housing and the Ciampi Wellness Living Learning Community to our work towards becoming a JED Campus, which involves a multi-year strategic collaboration with The Jed Foundation that supports student well-being and mental health,” said Elizabeth Drexler-Hines, director of the Office of Student Wellness Education at Holy Cross. “It also creates a shared language and common framework for how we infuse health and well-being across campus.”
