Humber College Is Revolutionizing Campus Culture for Holistic Success

Humber College Is Revolutionizing Campus Culture for Holistic Success

A healthy environment is important for students to thrive and to feel their best. This was made even clearer when the pandemic took a toll on the mental, physical, financial, and social health of students.

“When learners are exposed to a supportive and positive atmosphere, they are going to experience reduced levels of stress, improved mood, and increased academic fulfilment,” said Jinhee Lee, Humber College’s Inclusive Curriculum and Well-Being Specialist.

In 2018, Humber became the first public college in Canada to adopt the Okanagan Charter, a commitment meant to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and lead health promotion action. Now, the college has gone one step further by creating a Well-Being Strategy to give students and staff the tools to work and study in a healthy environment.

“If you are feeling comfortable and respected in your environment, then you’re more likely to feel a sense of belonging, which contributes to being able to communicate openly, and share ideas,” said Lee, one of the visionaries behind the Well-Being Strategy. “This leads to enhanced problem-solving, innovation, and higher-quality outcomes.”

The college strives to view health in a holistic manner, focusing on four pillars of well-being: physical, mental, financial and social.

help-seeking behaviour. The college offers training in mental health literacy and workshops to teach staff to create a psychologically safe working and learning environment.

On campus, Humber is enhancing food security by increasing healthy and affordable food options and working with campus partners on programs like IGNITE’s Soupbar, which offers free soup for students in need.

Humber aims to alleviate other financial burdens by bolstering access to open educational resources that reduce costs for students, such as free online textbooks. Paid work opportunities are also offered in many programs. Financial relief programs such as Humber IGNITE’s Student Union Financial Relief program are available for emergencies.

The transition to post-secondary can be challenging for students, which is why Humber pairs first-year students with upper-year mentors to ease their adjustment both academically and socially. Humber also supports Indigenous learners academically, culturally, and socially to ensure they transition and adjust to college life while creating an awareness and appreciation of Indigenous Culture and history.

As part of the Well-Being Strategy, a student advisory group from diverse programs and identities is being formed to monitor the effectiveness of these tactics.

Jessica Carrera, a member of the IGNITE student union, is one of those voices.

“I worked with a student who was feeling depressed and wanted to drop out of school because he was overwhelmed," said Carrera. “I directed him to a counsellor and an on-campus doctor. He said he was surprised how quick Humber responded. The results? He has now finished his program.”

Lee said by integrating well-being and self-care into the educational setting, students will be equipped with the tools to lead a fulfilling and balanced life beyond graduation, which will promote their personal happiness, success, and resilience in the face of any challenge.