Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) places high priority on the well-being of its students, faculty, and staff. The Department of Wellness leads several initiatives, including the OSU Pride Works: Health and Wellness Certificate Program for employees, which recently won the Innovative Integration Award at the ComPsych Health at Work Awards. This international program honors organizations that excel in holistic employee well-being, addressing physical, financial, social, and intellectual health.
Kelsey Ashwood, employee wellness coordinator, said the award reflects OSU-CHS’s commitment to its employees. The certificate program, developed with the human resources department, tackles barriers identified by the American College Health Association’s National Faculty and Staff Health Assessment—mainly scheduling and time constraints that limited participation in previous wellness programs.
To overcome these challenges, the certificate courses are held during paid work hours and integrated into professional development, with completion potentially influencing career advancement. Ashwood noted that the program not only improves employee health but also demonstrates the university’s support, positively affecting workplace culture and service to students.
Courses and events counting toward the certificate include TED Talk Tuesdays, Mental Health First Aid Training, and workshops on generational differences in the workplace. Ashwood hopes the program inspires other institutions to prioritize employee well-being in professional development.
Wellness support extends to students, too. Jesse Chaffin, health and wellness manager, emphasized that student health is vital to academic success. OSU-CHS promotes physical health through fitness centers, intramural sports, and group classes, while also addressing mental health. The Department of Wellness conducts the National College Health Assessment biennially, with the fall 2024 survey revealing that over half of OSU-CHS students face mental health struggles.
To address this, the department focuses largely on prevention through workshops, training, and programming designed to equip students with coping skills for their academic and professional futures. Students have access to many resources also available to employees, such as health education, counseling, nutrition advice, and pet therapy.
All first-year students complete Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) training to recognize and help prevent suicidal behavior. Chaffin underscored the challenges of higher education for both students and staff and stressed the importance of managing stress healthily to maintain well-being and move forward with purpose.
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