Wellbeing statement continues to grow in support

In April, NIRSA and NASPA’s Boards of Directors endorsed the joint statement Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Commitment to Student Success. The statement highlights strategic commitments from both associations in pursuit of innovating, supporting, and fostering a holistic, integrated, and strategic approach to wellbeing from the association level to the institutional level.

Now, with the start of a new school year upon us, we’re excited to release an updated version of Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Commitment to Student Success that has been endorsed by six associations in addition to NIRSA and NASPA.

The second edition of this statement marks continued progress from the NIRSA/NASPA Thought Leadership Forum on Wellbeing, where the impetus for this document began, as well as NIRSA’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, in which the association asserts its intention to be a driving force in an integrated approach to health and wellbeing.

See related: “Thought leadership forum on wellbeing sets foundation for future work”

NIRSA is proud to announce to our members the signatories of this second statement, which is now, by nature, further reaching and even more inclusive in its commitment to supporting wellbeing in higher education:

American College Health Association (ACHA)
College Student Educators International (ACPA)
Association of College & University Housing Offices – International (ACUHO-I)
Association of College Unions International (ACUI)
National Association for Campus Activities (NACA)
Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA)
NIRSA – Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA)

“By signing on to Health and Wellbeing in Higher Education: A Commitment to Student Success, associations are asserting their willingness to help make wellbeing a priority within their association – and to help empower their members to do the same within their work on campuses,” says NIRSA Executive Director Pam Watts. “Having so many associations, particularly across spectrum of student affairs expertise, committing to the same goal, helps to model this new brand of collaboration,” she adds.

NASPA President Kevin Kruger echoes Pam’s enthusiasm, “These associations are also committing to work together to move the needle on building cultures of wellbeing through professional development, research, and efforts to continually expand this increasingly critical discussion.”

About CHEMA

The Council of Higher Education Management Associations (CHEMA) is a voluntary assembly of management-oriented higher education associations throughout the US and Canada, which forms a peer group through which members can share information, compare experiences, and work collectively on projects of shared interest.