Wildcat Wellbeing

It is the ability to accept what life brings forth, the ups and downs; sometimes solo and sometimes with support. Wellbeing is a steadiness in yourself, your worth, and your ability to persevere. 

Wellbeing matters because it is essential to a full life; one with waves both challenging to ride and beautiful to look at; it’s the appreciation for the ebbs and flows and the knowing that you’ve got this. 

It’s finding beauty and hope even when things seem dim. It is knowing that when life gets tough, it won’t stay that way forever. (It’s a when, not an if.) And when you’re well, the tough feels surmountable, the light feels like it’s shining for you, and the ability to flow through it all is your default. Wellbeing is a sense of belonging to yourself, and to a community. 

Belonging is a core part of the experience at NMU. Belonging goes hand-in-hand with wellbeing. You belong here, just as you are: unapologetically yourself. And it is here that you can fully realize your wellbeing. 

Okanagan Charter

Northern Michigan University is committed to embedding wellbeing into the culture at NMU, and to do that to the fullest extent, on April 26, 2023, former President Brock Tessman signed the Okanagan Charter. 

The Okanagan Charter is a landmark document that serves as a guide for educational institutions worldwide to prioritize and enhance the health and well-being of their students, faculty, staff, and communities. It was first developed and endorsed at the International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges in 2015, held in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. 

The Okanagan Charter recognizes that the pursuit of health and well-being is not just the absence of illness but a holistic approach encompassing physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions. It emphasizes the vital connection between individual well-being and the health of the broader community and environment. The charter encourages a collaborative approach, engaging multiple stakeholders within and beyond the academic community to create healthier and more sustainable environments.