This document summarizes a discussion on wellness resources for Bonner Fall Directors' and Coordinators' meetings. It defines wellness, outlines campus initiatives at Berea College, and connects wellness to the Bonner Common Commitments. Case studies are presented on addressing student wellness issues. The Bonner Foundation provides wellness guides, campus examples, and discussion materials. Meeting participants shared wellness practices in their programs and suggested next steps to further support student wellness in the Bonner Network.

1. Continued Wellness:
A discussion of resources
Bonner Fall Directors’ and Coordinators’ Meeting
The Claggett Center
November 6, 2017
Caroline Twiggs, Mars Hill University, and Ashley Cochrane, Berea College

2. Agenda
• Welcome
• Goal for session:
• Identify and share resources to promote wellness in our programs
• On our campuses:
• Defining wellness and identifying current wellness initiatives
• Identifying connections:
• Bonner Common Commitments and dimensions of wellness
• Addressing wellness in our programs
• Case studies
• Bonner Foundation wellness resources
• Gallery sharing: Strategies, tools, and resources
• Next steps
• For our programs
• For Bonner Foundation

3. On our campuses …
• How is wellness defined on your campus?

4. Berea College Thrive!
• www.Berea.edu/thrive/overview/
• 8 dimensions of wellness
• Emotional
• Financial
• Intellectual
• Occupational
• Physical
• Social
• Spiritual
• Sustainable

5. On our campuses …
• What wellness initiatives exist on your campus?

6. Berea College FRESHStart
• Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on wellness:
• First-Year Residential Experience Supporting Health
(FRESH) Start
• Curricular and co-curricular programs
• www.Berea.edu/freshstart/

7. Defining Wellness in the Bonner Network
• Well-Being: Refers to characteristics of positive mental health that are
measured by purpose in life, supportive social relationships, feelings of
efficacy, and optimism for the future (Checkoway, 2011)
• Thriving: Refers to well-being in multiple areas—physical, social, emotional,
and psychological. It involves wisdom, appreciation of wonder, and being
able to bring purpose and compassion into your life (Huffington as cited in
Hayes, 2015)
• Resilience: The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma,
tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress—such as family and
relationship problems, serious health problems, or workplace or financial
stressors (American Psychological Association, 2017)

8. Why is wellness important to the Bonner
Network?
• In order for students to commit fully to the mission of the Bonner
Foundation, they need to be mindful of their own well-being and
need for self-care. Wellness is important to the Bonner Network
because our students must learn how to balance their lives, prioritize
their academic, civic, and personal responsibilities, and model
productive behaviors in the settings in which they learn and serve.

9. Wellness and Bonner
(adapted from Eric Hearst)
Six Dimensions of Wellness Common Commitments
Occupational Civic Engagement
Physical Community Building
Social Social Justice
Intellectual International Perspective
Spiritual Diversity
Emotional Spiritual Exploration

10. Addressing Wellness in our Programs
• Case Studies

11. Case Study 1 (adapted from Eric Hearst)
• Colby is a rising sophomore in your program. They have been volunteering with an after-school
program in the local community. The student has really enjoyed having a positive impact on the
children.
• Recently one of the children told the Colby that she has been having a hard time at home. She
said that she nor her siblings have been physically abused, but that they are worried that their
father is going to kill their mother. Colby told the program director and the organization is
contacting Child Protective Services.
• The student’s disclosure has caused Colby to reflect on their own past and childhood trauma.
They have not previously disclosed the events of their childhood (verbal abuse and physical
altercations between parents) and have never received therapeutic services to deal with the
associated pain.
• Colby used to cut themselves on their arms to cope with the stress of the home environment.
Learning about the student has triggered some deep seeded emotions and they have started
cutting again. Colby values your relationship and approaches you to talk about what is
happening.

12. Case Study 2 (adapted from Eric Hearst)
• Taylor is a third year student who is very involved on campus and in the
community. They are a Junior Bonner Intern, president of the Rotaract
Club, Teacher’s Assistant and tutor for supplemental instruction, officer in
SGA, and work on the weekends at the local supermarket. Taylor is clearly
overcommitted. They have recently begun exhibiting behaviors that are not
consistent with their character, e.g. skipping classes, dropping the ball on
big service projects, failing grades, and an increasingly disheveled
appearance.
• You are concerned about Taylor and request a meeting. During your
conversation, Taylor discloses that they are suffering from depression and
are overwhelmed by stress. You offer to help them find resources and
assistance on campus. Taylor thanks you for your concern but refuses to
accept your offer.

13. Bonner Foundation Resources
• Wellness Overview and Definitions
• Wellness Guides (i.e., protocol and recommendations for Bonner
Program staff)
• Wellness Campus Examples (i.e., examples of infrastructure and
programmatic supports collected from the Bonner Network)
• Wellness Documents to Download (i.e., facilitation guides for
discussions by staff and students; publications, presentations, studies,
related articles, and models like Trauma Informed Care)

14. Addressing Wellness in our Programs
• Gallery sharing: Practices, tools, resources
• In your program/center, how do you address wellness with staff?
• In your program/center, how do you address wellness with students?
• Be specific! Share:
• Trainings
• Modeling/practices
• Readings/videos/blogs/etc.
• Referral resources
• Stated policies

15. Next steps
• What is one next step that you will take for your program to promote
wellness?

16. Next steps
• What are specific ways that the Bonner Foundation can support the
promotion of wellness in our programs?