University of Minnesota commits to elevating student wellbeing through Okanagan Charter

Today, on World Health Day, University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham signed the Okanagan Charter, making the University a designated Health Promoting Campus.

The signing ceremony took place during the University’s Climate Resilience Teach-In, heralding the organization’s commitment to prioritizing health and sustainability. 

The Okanagan Charter is an international framework that calls on post-secondary schools to advance wellbeing in all aspects of University campus infrastructure — from administration and operations to creating learning spaces focused on student wellbeing academic mandates. 

The University of Minnesota is one of five Big 10 universities to adopt the Okanagan Charter, 45 nationwide – and one of two that serve their entire state as a multi-campus university.  

“Signing the Okanagan Charter reflects the wise, pioneering leadership of our students who brought this forward and our resolute University‑wide commitment to put student wellbeing at the center of everything we do,” said Cunningham. “The Charter strongly aligns to our Elevate Extraordinary 2030 strategic roadmap priorities to strengthen student mental health and food security. It provides a shared framework to embed wellbeing into how we teach, design spaces and support students across the University — so they have the foundation to learn, lead and succeed. It challenges us to look beyond individual wellness and ensure our policies and practices uplift the health of our people, our places and our world.”

Students were the first to advance adoption of the Okanagan Charter at the University of Minnesota. The student representatives formally recommended adoption of the Charter to the Board of Regents in March 2024. The University’s national leadership on sustainability will be highlighted at the Board of Regents meeting on April 9 -10.

The charter builds on many of the University’s existing student wellbeing initiatives and the University’s nationally recognized leadership in sustainability. New and evolving University initiatives to promote health and wellbeing will be tied together under the Charter, including:

• Expanding food pantries at all campuses statewide: The University is bolstering food security through new partnerships with regional food banks that increase access to fresh, healthy food and hygiene products for all students in need.
• Focusing on mental health: The University is committed to providing a broad range of wellbeing programs to ensure mental health services are accessible and inclusive for all.
• Elevating sustainability: The Office of Sustainability is advancing initiatives in line with its Climate Resilience and Climate Action plans, such expanding solar power on the Twin Cities campus this year, new hybrid electric buses projected to reduce emissions by 90%, more EVs and EV charging locations, and a tree canopy goal to improve air quality and reduce temperatures.
• Centering health in all policies: The University plans to adopt a new policy review process that applies a health-focused lens to all updated and new policies, ensuring they positively impact the wellbeing of students, faculty and staff.

Nursing student Yvonne Mongare is spearheading a task force on public health and climate resilience in the Office of Sustainability that aligns with Charter commitments. “As a future healthcare professional, I am working to mitigate systemic risks faced by our most vulnerable community members,” Mongare said. “The President’s signing of the Okanagan Charter transforms how we approach health and wellbeing at the University. It informs our efforts to build a structural foundation serving comprehensive wellbeing for every student, faculty and staff member.”

For more information on the University’s wellbeing initiative, visit studentwellbeinginitiative.umn.edu.