Michigan State University, which believes in the collective responsibility to support and advocate for the equitable health and well-being of students, faculty and staff, today announced that it has adopted the Okanagan Charter as a member of the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network, or USHPCN.

The USHPCN is guided by the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting University and Colleges, which calls on higher education institutions to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. Created in June 2015, the charter provides institutions with a common vision, language, principles and calls to action to become health and well-being promoting campuses.

“Michigan State University has long recognized that promoting the health and well-being of Spartans is foundational for academic, professional and life success,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “Adopting the Okanagan Charter will allow us to advance the spirit of current commitments in a systemic and sustainable way, ensuring students, faculty and staff have access to the support they need to not just succeed, but to truly flourish and thrive.”

Health Promoting Campuses, or HPCs, are part of an international community that aspires to transform the health and sustainability of current and future societies, strengthen communities, and contribute to the well-being of people, places and the planet. Evidence shows that people who are well are more productive, are better able to engage in deeper learning, have a greater sense of belonging and have a stronger sense of community.

MSU is part of a cohort of four universities in the United States that adopted the charter so far this year. The University of Alabama at Birmingham was the first institution in the U.S. to adopt the Okanagan Charter in December 2020. The network allows members to support each other and collaborate on the work of becoming a Health Promoting Campus.

“We are excited to affirm our commitment to supporting health and well-being for all MSU students, faculty and staff by formally adopting the Okanagan Charter,” said Alexis Travis, assistant provost and executive director of University Health and Wellbeing. “Today’s action lets students and employees who choose MSU know that we are coming together as a community to support a culture of care.”

By adopting the charter, each HPC is making institutional commitments to both the charter and its own strategic plan for how it lives out and implements health promotion on its campus and in its community. By doing so, Health Promoting Campuses improve the health of the people who live, learn, work, play and love on their campuses and strengthen the ecological, social and economic sustainability of their communities and wider society. 

Along with adopting the Okanagan Charter, MSU Health and Wellbeing is also launching the University Health and Wellbeing Plan. Insights from over 5,000 students, faculty and staff, along with contributions from steering and advisory committees, were instrumental in shaping the plan. The priorities and objectives outlined in the plan will serve as the north star for developing strategies and taking action over the next five years.

“Congratulations and welcome, Michigan State University, to the expanding network of higher education institutions embracing the Okanagan Charter,” said Sislena Ledbetter, chair of the USHPCN and associate vice president of Counseling, Health and Wellness at Western Washington University. “By embedding health and well-being into its campus culture, Michigan State University exemplifies leadership and a steadfast commitment to cultivating a thriving environment for students, faculty and staff.”