Creating a community within a course of over two hundred students can be difficult in the best of times and is even more challenging during a global pandemic that forced teaching and learning online.
The W3 Planning Committee has changed its name to W3+: Waterloo Womxn and Nonbinary Wednesdays (pronounced “W three plus”).
However you choose to move, the most important part is that you do! We spoke with Robbyn Hesch, Donna Rheams and Adam Steeves from the Department of Athletics and Recreation about the importance of active living and the wellness initiatives they’re leading.
An individual’s wellbeing and sense of belonging are closely related. When we talk about belonging, it is often described as feeling like an important member of a group or community. Without this feeling of belonging, individuals can start to feel socially isolated or lonely, which affects overall wellbeing. Making a connection with others can be challenging, especially at a large institution.
The importance of health and wellness in the classroom is something Cealan Wang works hard to achieve. Wang, recipient of the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (2019), knows that creating a healthy and engaging learning environment goes beyond simply giving information.
With the demands of work, creating and maintaining a resilient community within the workplace can be a challenge.
Kelly Anthony, a professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems, admits that when she first started teaching, she was concerned about her teaching style because it wasn’t what she saw from her contemporaries. She thought her focus on encouraging students to be good citizens of the university and wider community meant that she wasn’t as rigorous as her colleagues.
Kathy Becker secured funding from the Staff Excellence Fund to promote wellness amongst staff.
University of Waterloo Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) staff knit for graduate students on parental leave to let students know they are supported beyond their academic life.
The goal of the Move Your Mind (MYM) program is to help students experience all the benefits of physical activity by removing any barriers that might be in their way of participating. “You don’t want to go to the gym? No problem, what would you find enjoyable?” explains Kristen Leal, group fitness, aquatics, and instructional coordinator.