Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.15
Liaison Laura Young
Submission Date March 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

Michigan State University
PA-14: Wellness Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Laura Young
Sustainability Program Coordinator
Administration-EVP-Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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):

MSU’s commitment to sustainable health and well-being is reflected in the university’s strategic plan, which include five key objectives to improve health and well-being outcomes not just for the Spartan community, but for people everywhere. Specific to university students and employees, Objective 1 of this strategic theme is to “meet the physical and mental health needs of our students, faculty and staff”. https://strategicplan.msu.edu/strategic-plan/sustainable-health

Furthermore, the MSU University Well-Being Coalition (UWBC) is actively working cross-functionally to create a healthier community for students, faculty, and staff. The coalition consists of departments, academic units, and student organizations within MSU who have made a commitment to align their efforts toward creating and strengthening a culture of sustainable and equitable health and well-being at MSU. The work of the UWBC is organized around 3 strategic priorities: having a healthy Michigan State global community, implementing and evaluating health and well-being initiatives, and communicating meaningfully to create one unified health and well-being voice and resources. The UWBC has adopted the following Inter-Association Definition of Well-Being to guide their collaborative work: ‘well-being is an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential.’ This definition opens health and well-being work to the customization needed to serve each unit's students, staff, and faculty through unique options chosen by that unit’s work team. https://studenthealth.msu.edu/uwbc/index.html

MSU has several units that offer health and well-being services and programs to students. This includes the Health Promotion Department, Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Recreational Sports and Fitness Services, Graduate Student Life and Wellness, and Olin Health Center. There are also several units that provide direct services to both academic and non-academic staff at MSU including MSU Health4U, the Employee Assistance Program, and the WorkLife Office. In addition, MSU Extension plays a vital role in offering outreach and education programming that supports the health and well-being of Michigan youth and adults; MSU students, employees, and their families living in Michigan may benefit from their programming. See below for additional information and examples of MSU’s health and well-being services.

The Health Promotion Department within Student Health and Wellness challenges the health attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of the Spartan community through education, environmental management, and harm reduction efforts so that our students and faculty are free to pursue their personal and academic goals. The department provides services to address the health promotion, education, and prevention needs of MSU students through a wide array of campus and classroom educational programs, health promotion campaigns, and other health promotion strategies, including individualized educational programs. Specific programs include: Alcohol and Other Drugs Program; Collegiate Recovery Community; Nourish Nutrition Program; Sexual Wellness Program; SPARTANfit Fitness & Wellness Program; and the MSU Student Food Bank. https://healthpromotion.msu.edu/

Health4U is focused on helping the MSU community explore the fundamentals of a health-promoting lifestyle. The department provides access to high quality, evidence informed, and culturally conscious health education and support for MSU faculty, staff, graduate assistants, retirees and the spouses/partners of members of these groups. The Health4U team offers classes, coaching, counseling, and online services, as well as sharing health and wellness expertise in the areas of: Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drug Information (ANDI); Emotional Wellness; Food and Nutrition; MSU Moves; and My Health (health literacy). https://health4u.msu.edu/

The Michigan State University WorkLife Office was founded in 2016 and provides a one-stop destination for personal life and career/professional life questions. The office offers guidance and education in five areas: 1. Career Transitions, 2. Relocation & Community Connections, 3. Family Care, 4. Workplace Assistance (e.g., flexible work arrangements, recommendations for resolving conflict in the workplace); and 5. Research: best practices for work-life synergy and develop research specific to MSU’s community. The WorkLife Office serves all faculty and staff in the MSU community, including post-docs, academic specialists, librarians, pre-tenure faculty, fixed-term faculty, part-time/temporary and full-time staff, Extension staff and faculty, and administrators. https://worklife.msu.edu/
Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is for students seeking help for a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, stress management, homesickness, adjustment or acculturation, relationships, issues around race, gender and sexual orientation (LBGTQ), substance abuse, traumatic experiences, eating or body image concerns, and other personal mental health concerns. CAPS combines the clinical services of counseling and psychiatry in one setting. CAPS offers a wide array of free services and resources to address concerns, including short-term individual counseling, group counseling, medication, or referrals to other services. https://caps.msu.edu/index.html

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential counseling service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, retirees, graduate assistants, and their families. Some of the concerns we help with include: Work related stress; Personal stress; Anxiety; Depression; Shame; Alcohol and drug concerns; Relationship challenges; Family transition/conflict; Recovery from trauma; and Grief and loss. https://eap.msu.edu/

MSU is a proud partner of ThrivingCampus, an online platform that makes it easier for individuals to connect with off-campus mental health care and well-being services. With ThrivingCampus, individuals can: browse and filter providers based on their needs and preferences; get answers to common questions; and reach out to community providers and connect with mental health care and other services to support their well-being. https://msu.thrivingcampus.com/

MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness Services engages the university community in healthy lifestyles through sport, fitness, and recreational opportunities while promoting each participant's learning experience. The unit offers students, faculty and staff the opportunity to participate in many Intramural (IM) Sports and activities on a competitive and recreational level including: Flag Football, Soccer, Sand Volleyball, Pickleball, Ultimate Frisbee, Dodgeball, Indoor Volleyball, Golf, 3v3 Basketball, 5v5 Basketball, Yard Games Series, Indoor Soccer, Walleyball, Ice Hockey, Softball, and Log Rolling. Rec Sports manages facilities including IM Circle, IM East, IM West, Dem Hall, the MSU Sailing Center and various outdoor facilities including 28 tennis courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 2 basketball courts, and ~27 acres of field space. Rec Sports also offers a wide variety of free drop in recreation opportunities for adaptive recreation for both MSU and community members. https://recsports.msu.edu/index.html

The Office of Graduate Student Life & Wellness is committed to student well-being and believes it is a key foundation for academic, career, and life success. The office works diligently to ensure that graduate students receive an engaged and holistic education, achieve their potential, and remain connected to the University. With the goal of improved retention, productivity, creativity, and innovation in support of educational excellence, research, and community service, Graduate Student Life & Wellness advocates for graduate students and delivers guidance, academic support, services, programs, and resources that support graduate students as they invest in their academic work. https://grad.msu.edu/wellness

Health Services and related support services include primary care, allergy/immunizations, sports medicine, laboratory, and physical therapy. Pharmacy and radiology services are also available on campus. Registered MSU and MSU Law students, as well as their spouse or OEI, are eligible to use Health Services at Olin Health Center and in the Neighborhoods. There is no charge for a student’s first three medical office visits of each academic year, with the exception of MSU Law Students and most Lifelong Ed students. https://olin.msu.edu/index.html

The MSU Center for Survivors works with sexual assault survivors and all others who are impacted by sexual violence. The Center provides free and confidential individual counseling, advocacy, support groups to MSU students and community, as well as a 24-hour hotline, crisis chat, and advocacy services that are offered to anyone in the greater Lansing community. The MSU Sexual Assault Healthcare Program is staffed 24/7 by specialized forensic nurses that provide immediate support, resources, and medical care to any adult who has been recently sexually assaulted. Services are free and available to adults, including any resident in the tri-county area. https://centerforsurvivors.msu.edu/index.html

MSU Safe Place provides services to anyone who has experienced, or is experiencing, an abusive or controlling relationship. Services include counseling, support group, advocacy, shelter, information and referrals. All services are free, confidential and available on campus to students, faculty, staff and their partners who have experienced domestic violence. Members of the greater Lansing community who are in need of support may also contact MSU Safe Place. MSU Safe Place offers community education programs to classes on campus or community groups, as well as training tailored to the needs of area agencies and pre-professional students on campus. https://worklife.msu.edu/worklife-guide/msu-safe-place

MSU Extension’s (MSUE) Health and Nutrition Institute (HNI) provides extensive outreach programming related to health and well-being that may be available to MSU students, employees and their families throughout Michigan. HNI covers a multitude of concepts relating to overall health, well-being, and food safety. Program areas include: chronic disease, diabetes, food budgeting, food policy, food preservation, healthy relationships, nutrition, physical activity, safe food and water, weight management, mental health, and stress management. In 2020, MSUE offered 724 mental health and stress reduction educational events with 10,690 adults participating (for details, refer to: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/helping-michiganders-with-mental-health-and-stress-reduction). Through MSU’s nutrition and physical activity programming, Michigan adults, families and children gained crucial knowledge about nutrition and healthy foods, increased their daily physical activity and reduced their food insecurity. In 2020, MSUE reached 41,562 adults and youth through in-person and virtual nutrition education programming. Forty-one percent of adults reported eating more fruits and vegetables and increasing their physical activity, and 92% of students in kindergarten through second grade reported being willing to try new foods offered at school. For additional details, refer to https://www.canr.msu.edu/food_health/uploads/files/21_Extension%20Impact%20Report_Nutrition_PhysicalActivity_AA.pdf.


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:
The institution’s smoke-free policy:

Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees approved a tobacco-free ordinance in 2015 that went into effect August 15, 2016, as part of an ongoing effort to ensure the MSU community enjoys a healthy campus. The ordinance applies to all property governed by the Board of Trustees and includes not only the main campus but also all MSU sites across the state, nation, and globe. In addition to traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco, the ordinance also prohibits the use of e-cigarettes and vapes. All FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products are permitted for cessation use. The ordinance was amended in 2021 to permit the Traditional Native American spiritual, ceremonial and cultural use of tobacco on campus. Indoor tobacco use requires prior notice. The MSU Health4U program offers free tobacco and nicotine cessation resources for faculty, staff, graduate student employees, retirees, and the adult benefits-eligible dependents of the members of these groups. Cessation resources are available for students, employees, and others at tobaccofree.msu.edu/cessation.


Website URL where information about the institution’s wellness programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

MSU health and well-being services and programs reflect the university's progress in addressing U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.


MSU health and well-being services and programs reflect the university's progress in addressing U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

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.