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Colleagues,
As we settle into the second week of the fall semester, I want to express my appreciation for the many ways you’ve extended a warm Hilltopper welcome to our students. From assisting with move-in at the residence halls and leading M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan clusters to connecting with students during Topper Fest and guiding them across campus as Topper Directions volunteers, your efforts make a meaningful difference. Once again, you’ve demonstrated the genuine Hilltopper Spirit that sets apart our university, making it the right choice. We know that when students feel a true sense of engagement from day one, they are better positioned for success, and thanks to your personal outreach and encouragement, they start the semester confident that they belong at WKU.
Managing our own well-being remains equally as vital as caring for our students. Effectively improving our health and wellness can have life-changing, long-term benefits, and in the short term, it directly influences how we feel, how we engage with others and how we thrive – both personally and professionally.
This year, I will establish a university-wide Wellness Advisory Committee to examine and broaden our university health and wellness initiatives. While WKU already offers a wide range of supportive resources – from the TopLife Pledge and Vitality Points Program to comprehensive health insurance and discounted Preston Center memberships – I’d like us to take a deeper look at how we can better support the whole person. This includes exploring all dimensions of wellness – physical, mental, occupational and social health, as well as digital, environmental, financial well-being and more.
I will task the committee with hosting faculty and staff discussions and assessing pilot programs across the institution, including the 10 Dimensions of Wellness program adopted by the College of Health and Human Services. Their work will culminate in a set of recommendations designed to provide systemic, sustainable support mechanisms for our campus community.
An institution is only as strong as its people. You are essential to our mission of transforming the lives of our students. We are all part of the WKU Family, and I look forward to reviewing the committee’s important work and to beginning this renewed wellness journey together, so that we can feel our best and do our best every day.
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