Stevens Institute of Technology, along with five other colleges, received the 2022 Healthy Campus Award from Active Minds, a nonprofit organization that encourages mental health awareness for young adults. According to the Active Minds website, “This prestigious award, now in its sixth year, recognizes schools that provide access to quality healthcare and champions institutions that not only serve students’ physical health but give equal priority and investment to mental health.”
Active Minds’ recommendations for campus included system changes with long-term solutions, availability of resources, strong student voices, a healthy campus approach, and tracking progress. These criteria, as well as a few others, help determine the winners of the awards while also providing clear ideas to how other colleges can improve. Winners of the Healthy Campus Award are chosen by a panel of researchers and experts in health and higher education.
Recipients of the award demonstrated innovative solutions that addressed student needs, especially surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Stevens accomplished this through the establishment of a Mental Health Task Force which provided care for students as well as an expanded referral network. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Wellness Educations, Health, and Disability Services worked together to meet the needs involved with student care. Specifically, Stevens was stated to practice “Prioritization of a Collective Strategic Approach,” “Commitment to Sustainable Systems Changes and Policy-Oriented Long-Term Solutions,” and “Addressing Emerging Issues,” according to the Stevens website.
Stevens efforts were a year-round task that began during Orientation and Family Weekend. These events included educational information about resources available to students so they would be better able to utilize them throughout the remainder of the year. Wellness resources are involved in a variety of organizations from Residential Education and Student Life to Greek Life and Diversity Education.
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