MSU adopts Okanagan Charter to become a health promoting campus

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State University adopted the Okanagan Charter as a member of the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network, or USHPCN. The USHPCN is guided by the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting University and Colleges, which calls on higher education institutions to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.

Created in June 2015, the charter provides institutions with a common vision, language, principles, and calls to action to become health and well-being-promoting campuses.

Health Promoting Campuses, or HPCs, are part of an international community that aspires to transform the health and sustainability of current and future societies, strengthen communities, and contribute to the well-being of people, places, and the planet.

Alexis Travis, Assistant Provost of MSU Health and Wellbeing, said, “We refer to it as a cultural shift. We’re building this culture of care, and we’re looking at health within our policies.”

Evidence shows that people who are well are more productive are better able to engage in deeper learning, have a greater sense of belonging, and have a stronger sense of community.

MSU is part of a cohort of four universities in the United States that adopted the charter in 2025. The University of Alabama at Birmingham was the first institution in the U.S. to adopt the Okanagan Charter in December 2020.

The network allows members to support each other and collaborate on the work of becoming a Health Promoting Campus.

By adopting the charter, each HPC is making institutional commitments to both the charter and its strategic plan for how it lives out and implements health promotion on its campus and in its community.

By doing so, Health Promoting Campuses aim to improve the health of the people who live, learn, work, and play on their campuses and strengthen the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of their communities and wider society.

Along with adopting the Okanagan Charter, MSU Health and Wellbeing is also launching the University Health and Wellbeing Plan. Insights from over 5,000 students, faculty, and staff, along with contributions from steering and advisory committees, were instrumental in shaping the plan. The priorities and objectives outlined in the plan aim to help MSU develop strategies and take action over the next five years.

“For students, we know that many students experience anxiety, stress, and depression. We are working on strategies to support them through their journey as a student, making sure they have the skills to succeed.”

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