Manifesting the Philosophy

Winona State University’s motto is “a community of learners improving our world”.  In this regard, WSU has embarked on holistic wellness and comprehensive health to foster lifelong learning and to recognize our role in the larger community. This concept lays a foundation for ongoing student success in academics and further enhances the students’ ability to engender wellness for greater personal and societal impact.

The WSU vision for wellness stems from the unique life issues that students face, which have the potential to affect academic careers and impact their ability to be well-rounded and productive members of the community.  In 2003, faculty and staff members at WSU decided to act on the their vision for wellness by introducing a concept that would empower students to take a holistic approach to their well-being.  The integrated wellness vision was promoted on campus as having the potential to positively affect academic success, personal well-being and community engagement, as well as enhance the role students would have in an increasingly global community.  This concept and the affiliated facility, the Integrated Wellness Complex (IWC), were identified as an institutional priority in 2006 and the 90,000-square-foot, $19 million complex was opened in September, 2010. The original WSU vision of wellness is now further enhanced and embodied in the IWC and its services and programs.

The Center for Learning and Community Engagement has established Well Connected: Piecing Together a Well You as WSU's 2012-13 university-wide theme.  The theme will engage the entire campus and local community in collaborative wellness centered activities to achieve and sustain integrated wellness as a foundation for a balanced and successful life.  It is WSU’s hope that the 2012-13 university theme will enable all academic and service entities across campus as well as community endeavors to connect and further  engender wellness. Through these common a culture of intellectual engagement will be fostered, creating a diverse community. These concepts are supported through the following goal and objectives.