By Deanna Howes Spiro, Vice President of Communications, AJCU
This month’s issue of Connections takes a close look at the many ways Jesuit colleges and universities are serving the physical and mental health needs of students, faculty and staff. In spite of the pandemic, our institutions continue to demonstrate cura personalis for their communities both on-campus and online.
You will learn about the Happiness Habit Challenge at The University of Scranton; the Project Positive Campaign at Seattle University; the Wellness Center at Loyola University Chicago; and the Inside the L initiative at Le Moyne College. You will also find out how the annual Go Move fitness challenge pivoted from in-person to online, but still engaged faculty and staff from Jesuit institutions (led by the University of San Francisco) to determine who could get the most minutes of movement for the month of February.
Mental health is one of AJCU’s priority advocacy and outreach issues. We have spent the past eight months working closely with members of Congress to push for passage of the TREAT Act: Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide temporary state licensing reciprocity for licensed mental health practitioners in good standing to practice in another state throughout the pandemic. You will learn more about AJCU’s advocacy for the TREAT Act in Jenny Smulson’s Government Relations report.
The past year has taken its toll on all of us: more than ever, we know how vitally important it is to take care of our minds and bodies. We will continue to work with our institutions of Jesuit higher education to ensure that we always maintain our practice of cura personalis throughout the pandemic and beyond.