Wellness Promotion

Workshops

Wellness Promotion is available to facilitate the educational workshops listed below for a class, residence hall, organization, or group. The workshops include education and interactive activities to engage students around a variety of topics. In many cases, a team of Peer Educators and/or professional staff member will assist with the facilitation of the programs. Wellness Promotion requests a minimum of 7 business days notice when requesting the facilitation of a workshop. To submit a presenter request, please email wellness@wcupa.edu with information including the workshop being requested, proposed date and time of workshop, and intended audience.

Not part of an organization or group but would like to participate? Check out our program offerings on Wellness Promotion RamConnect page.

All workshops are approved in the WCU Ram Plan Co-Curricular Transcript.

• Decisions About Drinking*: The Decisions About Drinking workshop provides students with the opportunity to learn about the effects of alcohol on their brain and body, the impact of being around those who consume it, as well as the impact it may be having on their life if choosing to drink, in an interactive small group environment with their peers. This program provides an opportunity for students to have an open and honest conversation about various topics such as standard drink size and WCU policies, resources and supports regarding alcohol.

Upcoming Decisions About Drinking Workshop Dates:

***Note that all Zoom-facilitated workshops are limited to 35 students and in-person workshops are limited to 15 students. Workshops will be closed once full. 

Summer Workshop Dates

Tuesday, May 27 at 10 am via Zoom

Monday, June 16 at 3 pm via Zoom

Thursday, July 17 at 9 am via Zoom

Wednesday, August 20 at 1 pm via Zoom

To register and for additional information, visit Ram Connect: ramconnect.wcupa.edu and search Wellness Promotion Events.

• Discovering Well-Being*: Discovering Well-Being is a program designed to engaged students in conversations around the concept of well-being and the influence on student’s lives at WCU and beyond. During this workshop, students will have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities to explore how focus, the ability to empathize and express compassion, the impact of inspiration on personal drive, and how thoughts and beliefs influence our expectations connect back to well-being. During this introduction to well-being, students will learn strategies and resources available on campus to assist them in further exploring and practicing well-being.

Discovering Well-Being is presented by request only.

Click here to view the self-paced Discovering Well-Being online module on the RamPlan D2L website.

Wellness Promotion has five self-paced modules available on the Ram Plan D2L site. These modules include education and interactive activities to engage students around a variety of topics. All five modules are approved in the WCU Ram Plan Co-Curricular Transcript.

Below is a description of each module and the learning outcomes for participants:

 

D2L Module Title	Direct Link	Learning Outcomes	Program Description
Any Ram Can: Understanding Bystander Intervention	Click here to access module.	Match each of the 5 D's of bystander intervention with an action Identify the steps to take to align with West Chester’s Medical Amnesty Policy Recall the parts of the Step Up! model	Any Ram Can is a module designed explore what it means to be an active bystander, with emphasis on alcohol use. Students will learn various bystander intervention strategies, identify the qualities of being an active and engaged bystander, and learn about the university’s medical amnesty program.
Shift Happens: Challenging Perceptions About Substance Use	Click here to access module.	Identify the definition of a social norm Recognize three strategies for dispelling a misperception Select an example of a misconception in a scenario	Shift Happens is a module designed to challenge student norms and perceptions about alcohol and drug use by college students. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own perceptions about alcohol and drug use, review current substance use data for the collegiate setting, and gain skills to confront and dispel misperceptions around alcohol and drug use.
Voice Your Values	Click here to access module.	Define what a value is Choose 3 personal values for yourself from a list of values Identify how values lead into personal decision-making	This module leads students through a variety of reflective activities and dialogues to identify what is a value, how values influence decision-making, and assist students in identifying their personal values. This module explores one of the measurable pillars of well-being: purpose.
Choices About Cannabis	Click here to access module.	List one short-term and one long-term effect of cannabis use Describe two lower risk strategies for cannabis use Summarize the five elements of the WCU Medical Amnesty Policy	The Choices About Cannabis module provides students with the opportunity to learn about the effects of cannabis on their brain and body, the impact of being around those who consume it, as well as the impact it may be having on their life if choosing to use cannabis. The information in this module can help students make informed decisions if they choose to consume cannabis or help others who might make the decision to consume.
Discovering Well-Being	Click here to access module.	Define what well-being means to you Identify 3 out of 4 areas of well-being that are measurable and trainable Identify 5 of your strengths through the VIA Character Assessment Identify one tool you can utilize to increase your well-being	This module is designed for students to learn about the concept of well-being and the influence on student’s lives at WCU and beyond. Students will explore how focus, the ability to empathize and express compassion, the impact of inspiration on personal drive, and how thoughts and beliefs influence our expectations connect back to well-being. During this introduction to well-being, students will learn strategies and resources available on campus to assist them in further exploring and practicing well-being.

 

The Peer Education team hosts Be Well Huts on campus once a week. The Be Well Hut is a pop-up tent like structure and the huts typically take place outside of the SECC building. These Be Well Huts are for students by students and serve as brief touch points with students. The Be Well huts include educational and interactive activities and incentives to engage students around a variety of topics such as sleep, alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, gratitude and affirmations. The Be Well Hut also can support campus collaborations with other departments, groups or organizations! Check out our upcoming Be Well Huts on Wellness Promotion RamConnect page. 

RefRAMe Campaign

Posters:

Yard Signs

Rack Cards

Posters

Refresh Sleep Program

The Ram Box

The Ram Box is a FREE initiative through Wellness Promotion that functions similar to a subscription box. Through this initiative, students can request a box that includes educational materials and some fun surprises connected to the topic of the box. The Ram Box is packaged in a discreet manner so no one other than the requestor knows the content included. Below are the different types of boxes available for students to request during the semester. Students will receive notification from our department email, wellness@wcupa.edu, or our graduate assistant, ks906141@wcupa.edu, when their box is ready for pick-up. Boxes may be picked up from the Student Health Services Lobby in the Lower Level of Commonwealth Hall. We are able to ship a limited quantity of Ram Boxes to students taking all their classes remotely or taking their classes on Exton/Philadelphia locations AND reside more than 30 miles from WCU. Boxes are not eligible to be shipped internationally. Requests are on a first come, first serve basis.

Rambox Ordering is now closed. Please Check back in the fall.

• RubHub Box:  Students can select from a variety of sexual health supplies including internal condoms, external condoms, dams, lube, and abstinence kits. Included in each kit are the supplies, educational content on the supplies requested, and a sexual health education resource. This box can be requested once every 30 days.
• • STI Testing Resources
  • How to Use a Dam
  • How to Use External Condoms
  • How to Use Internal Condoms

• Stress Detox Box: This box contains a series of tools and resources to help students navigate the challenges of being a college student. Included in each kit is a fidget toy, stress ball, aids to de-stress such as coloring sheets and tea, and more! This box can be requested once a semester.

• Sunshine in a Box: This box contains a series of tools and resources to assist students in exploring well-being through the practice of gratitude. Included in each box is a gratitude journal and prompts, savoring activity with Dove chocolate, thank you cards, and more! This box can be requested once a semester.

• Period Kit: Students can select from a variety of menstrual products, including pads, tampons, panty liners, and menstrual cups.  Included in each kit are the supplies, educational content, and self-care items for students.  This box can be requested once every 30 days, and the menstrual cups can be requested once. 
  • How to Use Menstrual Supplies
  • Resources at WCU
• The T-Break Kit: This box includes our T-Break guide to help support you on a cannabis tolerance break, along with other surprises and resources to help you along the way!
• The Birthday Box: This box is a special treat for your 21st birthday, including educational resources to help you have a fun and safe birthday celebration! *must be celebrating 21st birthday in Fall 2024*

Grab and Go Contraception

A variety of contraception items are available for students in the vestibule area of Student Health Services, ground floor of Commonwealth Hall, 24-hours a day. 

Fresh Check Day

Project Connect.

When you connect, you protect.

Overview

ProjectConnect is an evidence-based program that aims to build connection and community on college campuses. Created by Jessica Gifford in 2020, the program has been adapted to WCU’s college environment through campus’ Wellness Promotion. 

Background

Jessica Gifford started ProjectConnect in 2020 while working at Amherst College. “I was seeing really high rates of loneliness among students – that was before the pandemic – loneliness rates were already really high and as a mental health professional that's something I'm really concerned about” (Gifford). Gifford explains that her driving force was simply knowing the immense value that positive relationships have on mental health. 

Because of this, Gifford says she felt it was important to implement the ProjectConnect on other college campuses. She advocates the program's effectiveness by highlighting its widespread adoption— with over 75 campuses utilizing the program, approximately 98% of participants respond by saying they would recommend ProjectConnect to a friend and 95% express a desire to participate again. 

What to expect

ProjectConnect is typically run as a 6-session program that can be offered in-person or over Zoom. In each 1-hour session, groups of 4-8 participants will navigate through a series of engaging questions and fun activities that have been demonstrated to build empathy, connection, and friendship. 

At WCU, the program is run by student facilitators who have undergone virtual Facilitator Certification Training provided by ProjectConnect, equipping them to lead groups effectively.  

How to get involved

·       Sign up for ongoing ProjectConnect sessions by visiting our RamConnect page!

·       New and upcoming sessions will be posted on RamConnect as well as on our Instagram: @wcuwellnesspromotion

·       If none of the current or upcoming sessions work for you, let us know! Fill out the form below in regard to your availability: https://forms.gle/e6hukt8WUbQR8nXL6 

 

Questions? Reach out to this year’s student facilitator Abby Barca: AB1004542@wcupa.edu

 

---

Why ProjectConnect?

 

ProjectConnect offers you the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, get to know other students on a personal—rather than academic—level, and form positive relationships.

 

The purpose of ProjectConnect is to: 

1.     Help you meet and make friends. According to the National Freshman Motivation to Complete College Report, 3 out of 4 first year students name making new friends as their top priority. Yet many students struggle to find their people and develop supportive social networks. The ProjectConnect format accelerates the getting-to-know-you process and helps students form meaningful relationships quickly. Participants report that it’s refreshing to have deeper conversations and be in a space where everyone comes with the shared purpose of making friends. 

 

2.     Reduce loneliness. The National College Health Assessment reports that over half of students are lonely at any given time, and Gen Z has the highest levels of loneliness of any age group. ProjectConnect has been demonstrated to reduce loneliness. Hundreds of participants have commented in their evaluations how much they appreciate the relationships they form with the other groups members. 

 

3.     Improve Mental Health. There is an enormous body of research showing that positive relationships protect against depression, are the strongest predictor of happiness, and are the most important factor in preventing suicide. One study looked at the impact that 106 separate “modifiable” had factors on developing depression over the next few years. It turned out that confiding in others—having people to talk to about what’s important to you—was the most influential in preventing depression. 

 

When you connect, you protect. Helping yourself and your peers build positive relationships—and practice confiding in others—may be the single most powerful thing you can do to help prevent depression and suicide. 

 

Get to know more about your student facilitator

Hi! I’m Abby Barca! I’m a third-year Media and Culture major at WCU with minors in History and Spanish. I’m 20 years old and grew up in Washington Township, New Jersey. This is my second year facilitating Project Connect and I am so excited to continue building the program at WCU!

Student Health and Well-Being Expo