Legacy

SFU’s Healthy Campus Community (HCC) initiative was launched in 2011 with the intention of taking a systemic, campus-wide approach to create conditions that enhance student health and well-being, and was later aligned with the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges in 2015. 

Since 2012, SFU Health Promotion has recognized champions for their outstanding contributions to the health and well-being of the university community as part of the HCC initiative. The award aims to showcase work that enhances student well-being, inspires people and programs at SFU to take action, and engages a variety of campus faculties, departments, and student-led groups in the HCC initiative. Since 2017, this award was presented at the annual President’s Awards Dinner, as a celebration of this high distinction. 

To date, 16 Champions have been awarded, demonstrating the breadth of activities that support a healthy campus community. While the Healthy Campus Community’s Champions Awards will no longer formally recognize individuals and groups, we thank the SFU community for engaging with this initiative, cultivating a culture of care, and supporting the health promoting work that creates a healthy campus community. 

Build SFU Project’s Student Union Building serves as a central hub for the SFU community on the Burnaby campus. The SUB welcomes undergraduate and graduate students to a welcoming and beautiful space designed with student well-being in mind and was guided by collaborative principles, and through continuous and thoughtful community engagement and consultation.

Read more about how the Build SFU Project and the Student Union Building came to fruition here.

Dr. Isabelle Côté is committed to fostering a community of care and building resilience among students, staff, and faculty as evidenced through actions big and small. Her fellow teaching staff nominated her for this award, because of the many actions she took within her role as Chair to strengthen both individual and collective well-being during the pandemic.

Learn more about her story here.

Dr. Paola Ardiles Gamboa makes a positive impact as an instructor, mentor, and collaborator at SFU through her values of equity, inclusion, community-engaged learning, and genuine care for student well-being. She has built various community-engaged services, a capstone course, and an extensive network of partners.

Learn more about her story here.

Out On Campus has been creating safe spaces and opportunities for students to be their authentic selves, without judgment, policing or editing. Through partnerships with SVSPO and HCS, various initiatives and support groups have been created, bringing a necessary advocacy voice to building more inclusive communities for LGBTQIA2S+ members.

Read more about how OOC builds an inclusive community here.

Dr. Kevin Lam creates supportive learning environments for students through opportunities for meaningful connections, building resilience, and confidence. He also develops practical teaching tools for others to enhance well-being in their classrooms.

Learn more about his story here.

Students, faculty, and staff from the Faculty of Health Sciences collectively contributed to enhancing well-being, student life, and students' experience outside of the classroom. Key themes resulted in the redesign of a new Student Commons space and university transition course titled Working for Health.

Read more about FHS’ contributions to student well-being here.

Dr. Petra Menz contributes to a healthy campus community by offering an exceptional amount of support to her students and fostering social connections with and between her students.

Learn more about her story here.

The FASS Connections Mentorship Program contributes to a healthy campus community by embedding well-being within its design and activities and creating a sense of community among incoming students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Read more about this community-engaged program here.

The Learning Hub contributes to a healthy campus community by providing a space in the Education Building with design elements that support well-being such as multifunctional use, flexible furniture options, views of the outdoors and access to natural light.

Read more about how physical spaces in the Education Building contribute to well-being here.

The Dining Hall contributes to a healthy campus community by creating a physical space that is supportive of student well-being: multifunctional in design, with sofas, electrical outlets, access to natural light and views of the outdoors.

Read more about this space here.

The Academic Enhancement program, a partnership between Computing Science and Student Learning Commons, contributes to a healthy campus community by providing students with opportunities for social connection and personal reflection while introducing academic resources and strategies.

Dr. Laurie Anderson contributes to a healthy campus community through his leadership in driving a range of programs at the Downtown campus that fosters a sense of community and social connection and encourages personal and professional development through dialogue.

Learn more about his story here.