Wellness Program

Mission

The Wellness Program at the University of Scranton provides incoming freshmen with the opportunity to live in a community whose members are dedicated to a well rounded healthy lifestyle. The program is based on eight dimensions of wellness— physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and sexual wellness. The experience is designed to foster a community where all eight dimensions of wellness are valued and developed. Coming to college means a whole new way of living—new friends, new freedoms, new opportunities and new outlooks on life. For incoming freshmen who want to make sure their new lifestyle is a healthy one, the Wellness Program offers an array of people and resources as guides. The Resident Assistants, working with the Center for Health Education and Wellness, provide many programs and activities to do just this. The Wellness community is one in which students grow and learn together what it means to lead a healthy life. The Wellness Program allows freshmen to have a fuller, more balanced college experience and make lasting friends along the way.

Goals

• To develop a stronger sense of commitment to your own well-being as well as that of the community in which you live
• To develop a lifestyle that incorporates and balances the eight dimensions of wellness
• To discourage the use of tobacco, drugs and irresponsible alcohol consumption
• To engage in thought-provoking discussions outside of the classroom
• To develop a strong sense of personal values and ethics
• To promote improved self-esteem through enhanced self-awareness
• To foster community among people with similar values and interests while encouraging the appreciation of individual differences

“The wellness floor was a great way for me to meet a community of friends who shared my interests and wanted to live an overall healthy lifestyle.” –Kimberly Maloney, Basking Ridge NJ Class of 2011 “Wellness is health in both mind and body. I like it because we motivate each other to be healthy.” –Zachary Weber, Wycombe, PA Class of 2011

Physical

This dimension encourages regular physical activity, including an adequate amount in the three major components: endurance, strength building and flexibility. It involves a nutritionally well-balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. Physical wellness means refraining from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine or illicit drug use, and avoiding excessive use of medication. A physically well person gets an adequate amount of sleep and exercises regularly.

Emotional

This dimension encourages awareness and an acceptance of feelings such as the degree to which you feel positive and enthusiastic about yourself and your life. It advocates the appropriate expression of your feelings, including anger, sadness, happiness and fear. It also includes the ability to assess personal limitations and cope with stress. An emotionally well person laughs often, learns from mistakes, and possesses high levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Social

This dimension encourages a contribution to the welfare of human society and the global community. It emphasizes interdependence among one's support network of family and friends, and encourages a balance between multiple social roles—child, partner, parent, employee and citizen. A socially well person serves the community, respects the dignity of all, and builds healthy relationships.

Intellectual This dimension encourages creative and stimulating mental activities. This includes using available resources to expand knowledge and improve skills, and is earmarked by a commitment to lifelong learning. An intellectually well person maintains a program of continuing education and possesses effective verbal, reading, writing, and communication skills. Spiritual This dimension encourages exploration and clarification of beliefs, values, ethics and morals. It includes developing meaning and purpose in life, as well as an appreciation for death. A spiritually well person possesses life-guiding principles, is tolerant of other's values and beliefs, and practices prayer, meditation and/or other forms of personal reflection.

Occupational

This dimension encourages selection of and participation in a career that provides opportunities for personal growth, achievement and satisfaction. It includes the ability to discover enrichment in life through work or profession. An occupationally well person possesses a positive attitude towards work and fulfills job duties in a manner consistent with personal values.

Environmental

This dimension encourages sensitivity to the precious and limited resources of earth. It includes an understanding that the environment one lives in can have a bearing on health. The environmentally well person recognizes that the actions of today's generation affect the lives of future ones, chooses a pollutant-free community and takes the initiative to live in an environmentally friendly manner.

Multicultural

This dimension encourages an understanding and appreciation of cultures other than your own. During your years at the University of Scranton, you will have the opportunity to meet people from many different backgrounds and cultures. Celebrating each other’s differences and finding common ground are important factors in a healthy community. A strong and healthy community embraces individual differences as factors that enrich the whole.

For more information, please contact the Office of Residence Life at (570) 941-6226 or res-life@scranton.edu.