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5 reasons to attend the Health & Wellness Summit

Health and Wellness Summit

 

Health and Wellness Services is hosting its annual Health & Wellness Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Wednesday, Nov. 13. Registration is recommended for presentation sessions.

Faculty and staff are invited to attend engaging presentations to gain tangible skills and learn about resources and programs to support their well-being at work and at home. 

Here are five reasons to attend. 


1. Connect with system colleagues 

This year’s summit will feature presentations from across the CU system. Our colleagues will be sharing research findings, workshops and program information from their respective universities. Here are a couple of system presentations to check out: 

Navigating Loss as a Community

Join our partners from UCCS to learn about their campus' experience following multiple traumatic student losses through the lens of Campus Recreation and Wellness leadership. This presentation will discuss responses, lessons learned and next steps. 

Supporting Others Without Depleting Yourself

Join our partners at CU Anschutz for an experiential session to learn in-the-moment tools to support yourself and others in difficult, stressful situations. This presentation will also share program development and outcomes as well as ways to integrate everyday practices for yourself and others. 


2. Deep dive into personal wellness topics 

Taking care of ourselves can have a profound effect on our personal and professional lives. Unfortunately for many of us, things like self-care, mindfulness and vulnerability tend to fall by the wayside. That’s why the Health & Wellness Summit will feature a variety of presentations related to personal wellness, including: 

Thriving 101: How to Design a Fulfilling Life and Career

Are you thriving? If you answered 'no' or aren't sure, this session is for you. Jordan Maness, a seasoned career and life coach, will share research findings on life and career well-being in a fun, engaging and practical way. 

Stress is a Laughing Matter: Using Humor as a Coping Strategy (Keynote)

In this funny and engaging talk, you'll learn evidence-based strategies to turn your sense of humor into an intentional tool to reduce stress and boost overall well-being. You'll learn actionable ways to use your own sense of humor as a powerful mindfulness tool. 


3. Learn how you can better support others 

Whether you have students, friends, colleagues or family members that are struggling with their mental health or overall wellness, there are ways we can all better support those around us. Several presentations at the summit will provide practical skills and interactive activities to help you learn how you can be a shoulder to lean on in times of distress. 

Here are a couple to check out: 

Culture Change, Supremacy and Social Inequities from a Recovery Model

This presentation will introduce the concept of supremacy that is endemic in American society and how it can affect illness, harm and equity. You'll participate in a sample practice to experience a 12-step recovery model geared toward individual and collective change. 

The Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling and Advocacy

This presentation will provide a brief introduction to the history, benefits and ethics of animal assisted therapy as well as how the Office of Victim Assistance has incorporated this technique into their counseling and advocacy services. 


4. Connect with campus and community resources 

Staff and faculty are encouraged to attend the Employee Benefits and Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 13 to connect with campus and community resources. This fair is a great opportunity to participate in fun activities while learning about benefits and perks, employee discounts, community-building opportunities, health information and a wide range of resources.  

Here are some tables and activities to check out: 

Free activities

Health and Wellness Services will have free activities, including: 

  • Acupressure
  • Chair massages
  • Flu shots
  • Professional portraits
  • Accessibili-tea reading and discussion with author Liz Moore

Campus resources

  • Employee Affinity Groups
  • Faculty & Staff Assistance Program
  • Health Promotion
  • Integrated Physiology Research Lab
  • Medical Services
  • University Libraries
  • Recreation Services
  • Employee Services
  • ... and more! 

Community resources

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield 
  • Boulder County Public Health 
  • BCycle 
  • Elevations Credit Union 
  • TIAA
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • YMCA of Northern Colorado
  • ... and more! 

5. Check out CU’s new wellness app 

Health and Wellness Services is launching a new employee app: WorkWell Connect. Powered by Wellable, this mobile app is the ultimate companion for CU Boulder faculty and staff, featuring: 

  • Live health coaching 
  • On-demand fitness 
  • Meditation and mindfulness classes 
  • Recipes 
  • Sleep stories 
  • Individual and team challenges

The app also integrates leading fitness trackers, making it easier than ever to stay active and healthy. Download the app and join our first campus-wide challenge, starting November 18!

WorkWell will be hosting a live demo of the app during the lunchtime keynote presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 12. This session is limited to 250 participants. Please register or join the waitlist to attend.