indicates that link will open in a new window.We are a Health Promoting Campus
Okanagan Charter
The U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network is guided by the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges to embed health into all aspects of campus culture; and to lead health promotion action and collaboration, locally and globally. The Charter provides institutions with a common language, principles, and a vision for wellbeing in person, place and planet.
The Purpose of the Charter
- Guide and inspire action by providing a framework that reflects the latest concepts, processes, and principles relevant to the Health Promoting Universities and Colleges movement, building upon advances since the 2005 Edmonton Charter
- Generate dialogue and research that expands local, regional, national, and international networks and accelerates action on, off, and between campuses
- Mobilize international, cross-sector action for the integration of health in all policies and practices, thus advancing the continued development of health-promoting universities and colleges.
Calls to Action
- Embed health into all aspects of campus culture, across the administration, operations, and academic mandates
- Lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally
Terminology
In creating a culture of a Health Promoting Campus, we want to ensure we are building from a shared understanding and foundation. Understanding the difference between health, wellness, and well-being can be a stepping stone to systemic change at Illinois.
Health
The World Health Organization constitution states that "health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
Wellness
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” Wellness is an individual pursuit—we have self-responsibility for our own choices, behaviors, and lifestyles—but it is also significantly influenced by the physical, social, and cultural environments in which we live.
Well-being
The World Health Organization defines well-being as a “positive state experienced by individuals and societies.” Well-being encompasses quality of life, as well as the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world in accordance with a sense of meaning and purpose.
In Higher Education, sponsored by professionals in associations that support students, we define well-being as an “optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential” focused on individual and community wellbeing.
Individual wellbeing is defined within three broad and interrelated categories:
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The perceived assessment of one’s own life as being generally happy and satisfying
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Having one’s human rights and needs met, and
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One’s contribution to the community.
Community well-being is defined by relationships and connectedness, perceived quality of life for all people in the community, and how well the community meets the needs of all members. By focusing on the whole — the whole person, the whole educational experience, the whole institution, the whole community — well-being becomes a multifaceted goal and a shared responsibility for the entire institution.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign adopted the Okanagan Charter as part of Health Promoting Campus on February 13, 2025.
As an institution, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to provide transformative learning opportunities, engage the voices of diverse stakeholders in an effort to realize collective impact, develop new knowledge and understanding, lead by example, and advocate to decision-makers for the benefit of society. In the emergent knowledge society, we are positioned to generate, share, and implement knowledge and research findings to enhance the health of citizens and communities both now and in the future.
Illinois Commitments:
- Commit to include well-being in the institution’s strategic, master, and budget planning.
- Commit to ensure that all members of the campus community have equitable access to resources and opportunities for well-being.
- Commit to sustainable campus design and practices that promote physical and mental health.
- Commit to invest dedicated resources in health promotion initiatives and outcomes.
- Commit to regularly publishing comprehensive reports on health promotion systems and settings work, the outcomes, and future planning.
- Commit to actively collaborate across the USHPCN and international campuses.
- Commit to integrate well-being into our core policies, practices, and decision-making.
Wellbeing Collective Steering Committee
- Angela Ajeesh, Graduate Student, Master of Public Health
- Randy Ballard, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Sports Medicine, Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
- Charlotte Davidson, Director, Native American House
- Alana Harris, Associate Director, Assessment and Student Wellness, Campus Recreation
- Janet Jokela, Senior Associate Dean for Engagement, Carle Illinois College of Medicine
- Melissa Kisubika, Student Success Initiative Manager, Office of the Provost
- Brianna Marcelo, Assistant Chancellor for Culture, Learning and Engagement, Illinois Human Resources
- Kathy Martensen, Associate Provost for Educational Programs and Success Initiatives, Office of the Provost
- Bridget Melton, Director of Strategic Planning & Communications, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute
- Emerson Sebastiao, Assistant Professor, Health and Kinesiology
- Awais Vaid, Executive Director, McKinley Health Center
- Morgan White, Associate Director of Facilities and Services and Director of Sustainability
Illinois has many active systems and settings that fit within the Okanagan Charter framework. Some Health Promoting Campus initiatives include:
As a Health Promoting Campus, we work collectively with the faculty, staff, and student population at the University of Illinois. We welcome any questions, suggestions, and feedback.
