Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 79.77
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date April 4, 2023

STARS v2.2

George Washington University
PA-14: Wellness Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Kim Carusone
Manager, Human Resources Communications
Human Resources
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Wellness program

Does the institution have a wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and wellbeing services available to all students?:
Yes

Does the institution have a wellness and/or employee assistance program that makes counseling, referral, and wellbeing services available to all academic staff?:
Yes

Does the institution have a wellness and/or employee assistance program that makes counseling, referral, and wellbeing services available to all non-academic staff?:
Yes

A brief description of the institution’s wellness and/or employee assistance program(s):
GW provides an employer-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Aetna. The program provides up to five in-person counseling sessions per issue for all employees, including access to chat therapy via Talkspace. In addition, GW pays for Headspace memberships for employees providing access to meditations, focus music, podcasts and more. GW also provides a health advocacy service (Health Advocate) for employees that assists with finding providers, answering questions about claims and billing issues as well as help clarify medical diagnosis when questions arise. In addition, GW offers a university-funded smoking cessation benefit, free flu shots, a Healthy Pregnancy Program, and a variety of other wellness programs onsite massages and education/outreach on current wellbeing topics.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers safe, non-judgmental and confidential counseling. CAPS serve GW students and engages the entire GW community, working to build a culture of support and connection with student well-being. CAPS supports mental health and personal development by collaborating directly with students to overcome challenges and difficulties that may interfere with academic, emotional, and personal success. Counselors provide a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment for students to discuss concerns. CAPS is committed to respecting and promoting the value of diversity at the university, as well as providing culturally sensitive counseling and psychological services to the GW community. The brief, individualized, stepped care model of counseling, strives to provide students with ample opportunities to: develop greater insight and self-understanding identify and solve problems reduce emotional distress improve cognitive, emotional, academic, and social functioning explore and understand cultural and other identities CAPS work also involves information, trainings, and tools to help students, staff, faculty, and family members.

Raise Up GW is dedicated to helping students engage in a comprehensive well-being experience across campus. It empowers students to actively engage in well-being activities that are supportive of holistic lifestyles. Through this initiative, students will gain an understanding of resources and learn how to help others in need. To be well at the George Washington University is to honor the dynamic process of change and growth that involves building resilience, persistence, and positivity in the face of challenges. Raise Up is dedicated to helping students prioritize their well-being by connecting them with campus services and resources across the eight dimensions of wellbeing, Physical, Emotional, Financial, Spiritual, Social, Intellectual, Environmental, and Cultural.

Part 2. Smoke-free environments

Does the institution prohibit smoking within all occupied buildings owned or leased by the institution?:
Yes

Does the institution restrict outdoor smoking?:
Yes

Does the institution prohibit smoking and tobacco use across the entire campus?:
Yes

A copy of the institution's smoke-free policy:
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The institution’s smoke-free policy:
https://compliance.gwu.edu/smoke-free

Optional Fields

Website URL where information about the institution’s wellness programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The university aims to create a clean and healthy environment for all members of our community on our Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon and Virginia Science and Technology campuses. In addition to indoor space, the policy also includes university-owned outdoor spaces as well as certain public spaces adjacent to GW buildings. We ask the GW community to help support this change by not smoking in front of GW buildings or in GW outdoor areas.

employees: https://hr.gwu.edu/wellbeing-programs; https://benefits.gwu.edu/wellbeing-hotline

students:
https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/counseling-and-psychological-services
https://studentlife.gwu.edu/well-being-initiatives

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.