As a Health Promoting Campus, we aim to support a university community with health and well-being equitably woven throughout all aspects of Spartan life, enhancing accessibility and safety through a culturally sensitive and holistic lens.
Spartan Well-Being Collective Awards Nomination Form
The Spartan Well-Being Collective Awards celebrate individuals, groups, and partners who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advancing the health and well-being of the MSU community.
Spartan Well-Being Collective Award Categories:
Health and Well-Being Changemaker
Recognizes individuals, teams, colleges, or major administrative units (MAUs) who have made significant contributions toward advancing the four priority areas outlined in MSU’s Health and Well-Being Strategic Plan.
Eligibility: Open to MSU-affiliated individuals and groups.
Partner in Health and Well-Being
Honors external partners or donors who demonstrate exceptional commitment to improving campus health and well-being through innovative, impactful, and sustainable contributions.
Eligibility: Must be outside of MSU (e.g., funders, donors, legislators, public officials). Not open to current MSU faculty, staff, or students.
Well-Being Advocate
Celebrates a student, faculty, or staff member who has championed health and well-being at MSU, resulting in meaningful policy or systems change at the college, department, major administrative unit (MAU), university-wide, or broader level.
Eligibility: Currently enrolled students or employed faculty/staff.
Deadline to nominate: Wednesday, November 20, 2026 at 12 p.m.
Please complete all sections thoroughly by submitting the required materials via the Qualtrics Survey linked above. Nominations will be evaluated based on the information provided, using the award rubrics published below.
- Summary of Nomination
- Provide a brief summary (150–250 words) describing why this nominee is being recognized for their contributions to health and well-being at MSU.
- Example prompts:
- What inspired this nomination?
- What stands out about their efforts or leadership?
- How do their contributions reflect MSU’s values and commitment to well-being?
- Example prompts:
- Provide a brief summary (150–250 words) describing why this nominee is being recognized for their contributions to health and well-being at MSU.
- Detailed Nomination Statement
- Please address the following prompts based on the award category.
(Responses should be detailed enough to allow reviewers to score each criterion.)
- If nominating for Partner in Health and Well-being:
- Impact: Describe measurable or observable outcomes that improved the health and well-being of the MSU community.
- Innovation: Explain how the nominee’s approach was creative, novel, or transformative.
- Collaboration: Outline how the nominee partnered with MSU units or stakeholders.
- Sustainability: Describe how these efforts demonstrate long-term commitment or enduring benefits.
- Alignment with MSU Values: Explain how their work reflects MSU’s mission of fostering an inclusive, healthy, and thriving campus culture.
- If nominating for Well-being Advocate:
- Leadership and Advocacy: Describe the nominee’s leadership and commitment to well-being.
- Impact on Policy, Systems, or Environment: Provide examples of tangible change resulting from their efforts.
- Collaboration and Engagement: Explain how the nominee brought others together to advance well-being.
- Innovation and Creativity: Share examples of innovative approaches or solutions used.
- Sustainability and Legacy: Discuss how their work contributes to lasting culture change at MSU.
- If nominating for Health and Well-being Changemaker:
- Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Indicate which of the four strategic priority areas their work supports.
- Impact and Outcomes: Describe specific results and their significance for MSU.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Highlight partnerships and cross-campus engagement.
- Innovation and Leadership: Explain how the nominee demonstrated creativity or led change.
- Sustainability and Institutionalization: Describe the long-term influence or integration into MSU systems or policy.
- Please address the following prompts based on the award category.
- Supporting Materials (Optional)
You may upload or link to supporting materials such as:
- Photos or media coverage
- Letters of support
- Program summaries or reports
- Data or evaluation results
(Attach as separate files or include URLs if submitting electronically.)
MSU Adopts Okanagan Charter
In February 2025, Michigan State University signed the Okanagan Charter , committing to integrate holistic health into all areas of campus life and to lead health promotion locally and globally.
The Okanagan Charter is a framework that guides universities and colleges to promote health and well-being in all aspects of campus life, integrating it into their culture, policies, and daily operations.
Signing the charter demonstrates a commitment to prioritizing health and well-being across all aspects of university life. It ensures a holistic approach to fostering a healthier campus community, aligns institutional practices with global standards for health promotion, and showcases leadership in creating a supportive and sustainable environment for students, staff, and faculty.
“Michigan State University has long recognized that promoting the health and well-being of Spartans is foundational for academic, professional, and life success. Adopting the Okanagan Charter allows us to advance the spirit of current commitments in a systemic and sustainable way, ensuring students, faculty, and staff have access to the support they need to not just succeed, but to truly flourish and thrive.” - Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., President, Michigan State University
MSU Launches University Health and Well-Being Plan
Michigan State University Health and Well-Being (UHW) launched the University Health and Well-Being Plan after engaging more than 5,000 students, faculty, and staff over 18 months, along with contributions from Steering and Advisory Committees. Their insights were instrumental in shaping the plan, which outlines priorities and objectives that will serve as the north star for fostering a culture of care on campus over the next five years.
Spartan Well-Being Collective
As Michigan State University evolves into a health promoting university, we know it cannot be accomplished by a single unit or department, but something we collectively create as a community. To develop a holistic, campus-wide approach, we’ve launched the Spartan Well-Being Collective, an interdisciplinary group of students and employees who implement and support our University Health and Well-Being plan, grounded and guided by the Okanagan Charter.
Spartan Well-Being Collective Progress Update Reports
Since its launch in February 2025, following MSU’s adoption of the Okanagan Charter, the Spartan Well-Being Collective has been actively fostering a culture of care on campus. The Mid-Year Reports below outline key progress from the Collective.
Spartan Well-Being Collective Objective and Strategy Framework (2025–26)
The Spartan Well-Being Collective continues its work to foster a culture of care at MSU. This appendix outlines the updated strategies from the University Health and Well-Being (UHW) plan, approved by the Spartan Well-Being Collective Steering and Advisory Committees.
Well-Being at MSU Podcast Episode 5 - Spartan Well-Being Collective: Fostering a Health Promoting Campus
Hear from a few of the Spartan Well-Being Collective co-chairs as they share progress toward fostering a health promoting university. Listen on Spotify.
We’d love to hear from you!
Want to get involved, partner, and/or have questions about the Spartan Well-Being Collective?
Please email us at swc.uhw@msu.edu.
