East Hillsborough News

University of South Florida recently issued the following announcement.

The USF St. Petersburg campus received the 2022 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award, which celebrates U.S. colleges and universities that provide access to quality healthcare, serving students’ physical health while giving equal priority and investment to mental health.

This year’s recipients represent a range of campuses that operate within different contexts and challenges. Together, they demonstrate how institutions of all sizes and types can create healthy communities that allow every student the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

The USF St. Petersburg college campus joins four other colleges and universities in receiving the national award: Auburn University, Barstow Community College, Stevens Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech.

Colleges and universities are crucial in improving the well-being of young adults. USF St. Petersburg campus and the other winning schools found ways to pivot to address student needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, proactively addressing systems of oppression, integrating health and wellbeing in strategic planning and using data to ensure that students are getting the care they need.

"The health and safety of our students - both physical and mental - is our top priority," said Patricia Helton, regional vice chancellor of student success at USF’s St. Petersburg campus. "Our team is truly passionate about their work, and I'm delighted to see their efforts recognized with this meaningful award."

Students enrolled at colleges and universities that prioritize well-being often find that the programs and services provided to them are part of the fabric of the campus community.

The review panel for the Healthy Campus Award cited the following innovative practices at USF St. Petersburg campus:

• Championing student voices: USF St. Petersburg campus listens, elevates and prioritizes the student voice. University leadership regularly holds seats for students on planning committees and students are invited to participate in climate and programming surveys, while faculty engage students in real-world academic activities that often include focus groups and research to fully understand the needs of the student body.

• Proactively addressing systemic injustices: Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion and dismantling systems of oppression are institutional imperatives at the USF St. Petersburg campus. The campus has worked to update policies, procedures and plans that work towards high levels of inclusivity and opportunity by supporting recruitment and retention of diverse staff, enhancing the accessibility of physical space and creating new working relationships among offices with shared interests in the area of inclusivity.

• Providing quality, responsive, accessible clinical services: When students present with a need – whether physical, psychological, or social – the USF St. Petersburg campus’ Wellness Center offers “wrap-around” care that also empowers them to take charge of their health. This care includes both in-person and telehealth services that work closely with specialty services (including behavioral health consultation, nutrition, and psychiatry providers) to ensure communication and work happen swiftly and with clarity.

“USF’s St. Petersburg campus stands out for its passion about elevating student voices and contributing to a diverse and inclusive campus culture,” said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. “USF St. Petersburg is a model for prioritizing mental health for its students and in facilitating proactive resources on campus.”

The Healthy Campus Award involves an extensive application process as well as multiple endorsements. Each applicant is assessed across ten criteria, with winners chosen by a panel of students, prominent researchers and experts in health and higher education.

Active Minds has updated its Healthy Campus Framework and Recommendations to guide institutions of all types on best practices for prioritizing health, both physical and mental, on their campuses and in their communities. Read the 2022 report here.

The Healthy Campus Award is made possible through the generous support of Peg’s Foundation. For more information about Active Minds, the Healthy Campus Awards, and the best-in-class programs of the award-winning colleges, please visit: activeminds.org/award.

Original source can be found here.