The Office of the Dean  Students is dedicated to the development of the whole student. This holistic philosophy extends beyond the classroom.  Believing that academic success is more easily achieved when a student takes responsibility for his own health, we try to provide up-to-date resources corresponding to our wellness model of balance, that is,  combining physical, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, social, and emotional health.

Wellness is a concept

that includes taking responsibility for your own health, creating a full and balanced lifestyle and being the best person you can be. The six dimensions of the College's wellness model provide a framework by which you can measure your growth as a whole person and determine how well-rounded and balanced your lifestyle is at any given point.

The institution's wellness model includes six components: social, occupational, spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional. To understand fully what each component means review the examples below of behaviors you can engage in to maintain or grow in that area.

Social

• Being comfortable with and liking yourself as a person
• Interacting easily with people of different ages, backgrounds, races, lifestyles
• Contributing time and energy to the community
• Communicating your feelings
• Developing friendships
• Recognizing a need for "fun" time in your life
• Budgeting and balancing your time to include both responsibilities and relaxation

Occupational

• Finding satisfaction and worth in your work
• Utilizing resources that help you develop personal job hunting skills
• Feeling confident in your ability to find and obtain a job
• Recognizing opportunities that lead you to new skills and acting on those opportunities
• Pursuing careers that complement your personal goals and values
  

Spiritual

• Being open to different cultures and religions
• Giving your time to volunteer or participate in community service activities
• Spending time defining personal values and ethics and making decisions that complement them
• Spending time alone in personal reflection
• Participating in spiritual activities
• Participating in activities that protect the environment
• Caring about the welfare of others and acting out of that care
  

Physical

• Exercising regularly
• Eating properly
• Getting regular physical check-ups
• Avoiding the use of tobacco or illicit drugs
• Consuming alcohol in low-risk quantities
• Taking time for stress reduction and relaxation
  

Intellectual

• Learning because you want to - not because you are told to. Doing the work assigned.
• Learning through varied experiences - reading, writing, sharing and exploration
• Observing what is around you
• Listening
• Finding applications for material learned in the classroom
• Staying current with world affairs/news
• Questioning
• Exposing yourself to new experiences (e.g. arts, theater)
  

Emotional

• Keeping a positive attitude
• Being sensitive to your feelings and the feelings of others
• Learning to cope with stress
• Being realistic about your expectations and time
• Taking responsibility for your own behavior
• Dealing with your personal and financial issues realistically
• Viewing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles
• Functioning independently but knowing when you need to ask for help