DANBURY, Connecticut — While Western Connecticut State University’s primary goal is educating its students and helping them to be good global citizens, the university also considers the mental, physical and social health of the scholars a priority. Achieving overall wellness allows students to concentrate on their studies and earn their degrees.
The definition of wellness is optimal health and vitality, encompassing physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing.
WCSU offers numerous wellness services designed to help students work toward maximum wellbeing and also overcome conditions like stress, poor mental health, academic struggles, hunger, abuse, prejudice, disability and more. Events like Health Fairs, recreational and art activities and wellness days teach students how to take care of themselves, fight stress, stay safe, eat healthy, remain physically active and socialize optimally.
Some of the services and events WCSU offers include:
WCSU Health Services provides health care office visits and certain medications and testing to students in its on-campus office. Recently WCSU expanded its Wellness Center, now a 10,000 square foot space attached to Newbury Hall, which houses the Health Center and includes exam rooms, counseling offices and the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. alcohol and substance abuse prevention program.
C.H.O.I.C.E.S, the acronym for Cultivating Healthy Opportunities in College Environments, is an alcohol and substance abuse prevention program that provides confidential assessments and counseling for students experiencing problems with any substance use/abuse.
WCSU Counseling Services offers free and confidential services to students, including mental health counseling sessions both in person and virtually.
The Institute for Holistic Health Studies provides students with the opportunity to engage in and explore different aspects of holistic and integrative health through various programs and instructional sessions, including guided meditations, reiki sessions, mudra meditations, yoga, crystals and daily stress release events.
Health Fitness & Wellness Fairs for students, faculty and the public are hosted through a joint effort of several WCSU departments each year. Local vendors join in (including visits from kittens, baby goats and therapy dogs) to help students alleviate stress and learn how to stay healthy through fitness and wellness demonstrations and informational activities.
AccessAbility Services facilitates equal access for students with disabilities to all programs and activities at WCSU. The department coordinates and provides accommodations and support services to students with documented disabilities to allow them equal access to their education.
The Student Care Team is a multidisciplinary leadership team designed to monitor, assess, intervene, consult and refer in order to remove barriers to student success and wellbeing. Team members look for signs of student distress, including social, emotional, developmental, physical and mental health issues, and collaborate to refer students to helpful services.
A new University Advisement model adopted by WCSU now guarantees that every student will have a Student Success Team working for them. These teams consist of key partnerships among diverse areas that support student success beginning as soon as students confirm their acceptance to the university, and will provide appropriate support, advisement and guidance to students as they navigate their academic career. All incoming first time and transfer students will have University Advisors based on their school or program, and Faculty Mentors allow faculty to continue working with students on their academic and post-graduation planning. The University Advisement Center will continue to identify and connect students with the variety of services necessary for degree progress for all students.
Healthy Options Dining Service is offered by Sodexo, the university’s contracted food vendor. Choices include healthy, nutritious food and meals and mindful offerings meeting stringent nutritional criteria based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are offered.
The WCSU Food Pantry provides non-perishable food and personal products to any student who is facing food insecurity on a confidential, no-questions-asked basis, even in the summer months.
The Center for Empowerment and Education offers support services including crisis intervention, emergency shelter and counseling for victims of interpersonal violence.
WCSU’s Campus Response & Resource Team (CaRRT) provides students with important information regarding the systems that are in place at the university to support any student whose rights have been violated, and will take action on any violations of the Student Code of Conduct while supporting students who wish to pursue formal legal action for crimes that may have been committed against them such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and intimate partner violence.
WCSU also assures compliance with Title IX, which protects people from discrimination based on sex and gender in education programs, sports or activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education. Title IX obligations extend to the areas of recruitment, admissions, counseling, financial assistance, athletics, sex-based harassment, treatment of pregnant and parenting students, discipline and employment.
The Racial Justice Coalition ensures racial justice and inclusiveness at WCSU. UndocuAlly, a coalition of departments also known as Undocumented Student Support Services, provides resources and guidance to support the advancement of undocumented students during their academic time on campus.
The WCSU Pride Center provides services, programs and events to the campus LGBTQ+ community. WCSU offers gender neutral restrooms and housing to students.
Campus Ministries: The Catholic Campus Ministry, located in the Newman Center near the Midtown campus, invites all denominations, including non-Christians, to be part of the worship, fellowship, outreach and educational opportunities offered by the ministry. WCSU Campus Ministry, located in the Midtown Student Center, allows students to come together to serve, ask questions, grow and belong.
The Center for Student Involvement creates an environment in which all students and student organizations are encouraged and aided in the development of positive social, cultural, intellectual, recreational and leadership programs and activities, including trips and club functions. There are many Clubs related to student interests and field of studies as well as club sports, and there are student organizations that actively engage in community service. Additionally, clubs like the Program Activities Council organize and sponsor numerous fun activities and trips for students during the school year, allowing them to socialize and meet new people. The Student Government Association also organizes events and looks out for the interests of all students.
The Wolves Rec Department hosts numerous recreational activities and special events to encourage physical fitness, promote positive wellbeing and allow students to have fun, socialize and meet new people. Both campuses host Fitness Zones and other areas for students to meet.
WCSU’s new Student Center, a result of the complete transformation of Berkshire Hall, features a vibrant and exciting dining facility and recreation center in an Urban Renewal style. The building’s spaces feature a fireplace and a barista-styled coffee shop with paninis and smoothies, and an abundance of casual seating and lounge areas to enjoy food options including grab-and-go and late-night prepared food on top of a robust selection of meal options with separate prep stations including a brick pizza oven, grill, pasta bar, soup and salad bar, sandwich station and a variety of hot entrees as well as gluten free and vegetarian/vegan stations. The Student Center will also feature a renovated and expanded recreation center and multi-purpose gymnasium as well as a new state-of-the-art cardio fitness center in the future.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.