Wellness Promotion provides education on the following topics in a variety of modalities:
Alcohol, Cannabis, Tobacco, and Other Drug Education (prescription misuse, stimulants, hallucinogens,
depressants) Gratitude Health Promotion Mental Health Physical Health (nutrition, movement) Sexual health Sleep Well-being
*Note that we do not offer large quantities of contraception for distribution outside
of our programming efforts.
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.
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.
Friday, January 31 at 12pm via Zoom
Wednesday, February 12 at 12pm in person (location in RamConnect)
Friday, February 21 at 3pm via Zoom
Tuesday, March 4 at 2pm in person (location in RamConnect)
Friday, March 21at 3pm via Zoom
Wednesday, April 9 at 1pm in person (location in RamConnect)
Friday, April 25 at 3pm 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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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
About:
Wellness Promotion has received funding from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
(PLCB), Bureau of Alcohol Education’s Reducing Underage Drinking and Dangerous Drinking
(RUDD) Grant to develop and enhance alcohol education programming for WCU students
through the development of several initiatives including the RefRAMe Campaign . The
campaign is aimed at reframing the campus culture around alcohol use. Misperceptions
and misinformation lead to overestimating use, pressure to consume, normalizing dangerous
behaviors, and diminished risk of behaviors.
The goals of the RefRAMe Campaign include: -Developing institutional capacity through data collection and analysis to identify
ways in which the role of alcohol on our campus culture can be reframed -Implementing strategic initiatives to reframe campus culture through conversation,
environment, and events -Developing evaluation measures to assess effectiveness of campaign efforts in changing
campus culture
Are you having trouble getting quality sleep? Are you interested in learning how to
get more restful nights? The Refresh Sleep program, developed at Stanford University,
provides college students with skills and strategies to achieve better sleep. Course
material is distributed to students weekly for a total of 7 weeks through email.
Student participants will receive weekly email tips and strategies to achieve more
restful night sleep as well as a weekly sleep log. Students will spend on average
10-30 minutes per week with the program content that includes information about:
The physiology of sleep
Sleep hygiene
Relaxation techniques
Mindfulness
Cognitive strategies
The next 7-week Refresh Sleep Program begins October 23. Registration deadline is
October 22 at 12pm. Register on our RamConnect page.
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.
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.
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.
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
Fresh Check Day is a signature program from the Jordan Porco Foundation designed to
bring awareness to mental health promotion and suicide prevention. This event includes
interactive booths and peer-to-peer messaging through a fun and interactive event.
The program's primary goals include:
Increase awareness of mental health resources and services available to students
Reduce stigma and misconceptions about mental health and suicide that often deter
individuals from seeking help
Empower peers to be gatekeepers by understanding warning signs and knowing what to
do if a friend is exhibiting signs of suicide or mental health concerns
Increase willingness to ask for help if experiencing emotional distress.
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
Wellness Promotion and the WCU Department of Health coordinate a Student Health and
Well-Being Expo each fall. Check back at the start of the fall 2025 semester for
more details!
