MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Northern Michigan University signed a charter today to commit The University to student and faculty health and wellbeing. NMU is the 17th university to sign the Okanagan charter.
The charter was created back in 2015 as an international charter to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and lead in health promoting collaboration locally and globally. Abigail Wyche is The Advisor for Campus Wellbeing at NMU, she says these are the first steps to improving the culture at Northern
“Not only is the charter designed to be a public commitment,” Wyche says, “it also provides accountability for taking transformative action under a principled framework. That framework urges institutions to step up, take on their societal responsibilities, and lead by example.”
Following a rise in NMU students advocating for improved mental health resources, The University made the decision to start the search for a framework to achieve that goal.
Northern Michigan University is making a commitment to student and professional health and wellbeing. With updates coming to the campus this summer, University President Brock Tessman has signed a charter to take action within The University.
Student leaders have led much of the discussion at the university about what resources are needed on campus. Former student body president Zora Binert worked with university staff as a part of her term with ASNMU, she says it’s encouraging to see the university taking action.
“Well being isn’t just about physical mental or emotional health,” Binert said, “but also about academic success, housing security, financial security for students, because those all play a huge role into what we’re doing here at this university.”
A part of the commitment, this summer the university will be finishing construction on its new wellness center on Lincoln Street in Marquette, and working to launch a case management services team to assist students with their unique challenges. University President, Dr. Brock Tessman says these are just the first steps towards making change.
“The way that we think about health and wellbeing,” Dr. Tessman says, “The way that we think about diversity on this campus, the way that we think about sustainability on this campus, they’re all connected. And I hope you see more and more of that connectedness on campus as we move forward.”
Multiple new positions are also being created to focus on diversity, health, and sustainability within everyday operations, university leadership says the work is underway, but there’s still much left to do.
