Understanding the Okanagan Charter: A Framework for Prioritizing Campus Well-Being
In recent years, colleges and universities worldwide have prioritized student well-being as an integral part of their mission. Furthermore, not only does investing in wellness programs support student health and satisfaction, but it also offers additional benefits. These extra benefits include improving graduation rates, strengthening institutional reputation, reducing recruitment costs, and boosting student retention.
However, establishing meaningful well-being initiatives that align with academic goals and institutional values can be a complex challenge. Enter the Okanagan Charter, a powerful guiding framework designed to help higher education institutions create, implement, and sustain holistic wellness programs.
Recently, we hosted a webinar with three college health leaders—Dr. Oliver Tacto of Maryville University, Emily Pagano of UConn, and Kelly Gorman of UAlbany— shared insights on best practices for promoting wellness on college campuses. Each of their institutions has committed to the Okanagan Charter, setting an example for how campuses can foster a culture of well-being.
What is the Okanagan Charter?
The Okanagan Charter was created in 2015 at the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges in Kelowna, Canada. Its goal is to inspire colleges and universities to integrate health into every aspect of campus life. Unlike typical health initiatives, the Charter calls for a comprehensive approach, taking into account the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of students, faculty, and staff.
The Charter consists of two primary calls to action:
- 1. Embed Health into All Aspects of Campus Culture:
- Colleges should make well-being a core part of campus life, not just through wellness services, but across all departments and activities.
- 2. Lead Health Promotion Locally and Globally:
- Universities are encouraged to engage with local communities, health organizations, and global partners, creating a supportive ecosystem for all involved.
These calls help institutions, like our recent webinar speakers, build environments where students, staff, and faculty feel supported in every part of campus life.
Hear Dr. Oliver Tacto’s take on the Okanagan Charter in the clip below:
Why the Okanagan Charter Matters for Higher Education
In today’s competitive higher education landscape, where the mental health and overall well-being of students are essential, the Okanagan Charter offers universities a holistic framework to create an impactful, inclusive, and sustainable approach to wellness.
Here’s why the Okanagan Charter matters now more than ever:
- Aligning with Institutional Values: With many students and their families prioritizing well-being when choosing schools, the Okanagan Charter helps colleges establish wellness programs that align with institutional values, strategic plans, and mission statements, strengthening their reputation and appeal.
- Supporting Mental Health: As the demand for mental health services continues to rise, the Charter provides a pathway for campuses to develop comprehensive support systems that prioritize mental health without limiting their focus to clinical services.
- Fostering a Supportive Campus Culture: The Charter’s emphasis on embedding health into all aspects of campus life encourages institutions to foster a supportive culture where students, faculty, and staff feel valued and empowered to take charge of their well-being.
P.S. – You can download a copy of the Okanagan Charter here.
Key Principles for Mobilizing Whole-Campus Health Initiatives in Higher Education
Furthermore, the Okanagan Charter lays out guiding principles to help campuses take action toward whole-system health. Following these principles allows institutions to create healthier, more inclusive campus environments.
Key principles that drive the Okanagan Charter’s approach to whole-campus health initiatives include:
- Using settings and whole system approaches: Focus on holistic, system-wide methods to create healthy conditions in higher education and model health promotion for other settings.
- Ensuring comprehensive and campus-wide approaches: Implement interconnected strategies for the whole campus.
- Leveraging participatory approaches to engage the voice of students and others: Set ambitious goals and engage all stakeholders—students, staff, faculty, and leaders—in collaborative, participatory efforts to establish priorities and foster widespread commitment to action.
- Developing trans-disciplinary collaborations and cross-sector partnerships: Foster collaborations across disciplines and sectors, both on campus and with local and global partners, to drive comprehensive health initiatives and promote health knowledge and action in wider communities.
Hear Emily’s thoughts on what it means to collaborate versus cooperate:
- Promoting research, innovation and evidence-informed action: Ensure research and innovation provide evidence to shape health policies and practices, enhancing sustainability on campus and in society, while adapting actions based on new findings.
- Building on strengths: Adopt an asset-based approach to recognize strengths, address challenges, celebrate successes, and share lessons to continuously improve campus health and well-being.
- Valuing local and indigenous communities’ contexts and priorities: Promote health by engaging with and understanding the contexts and priorities of local and indigenous communities, while considering the perspectives of vulnerable and transitioning populations.
- Acting on an existing universal responsibility: Uphold the “Right to Health” declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by ensuring health promotion actions reflect social justice, equity, dignity, diversity, and the interconnectedness of health with social, economic, and ecological factors.
Key Takeaways
The Okanagan Charter empowers campuses to prioritize holistic well-being by embedding health into all areas of campus life and fostering a supportive community. Incorporating these principles allows colleges and universities to create sustainable wellness initiatives that truly enhance the campus community as a whole.
