The President’s Council for Campus Well-being is scheduled to host the first NDSU Walk to Well-being Week April 18-22. The event encourages faculty and staff to get outside to walk and connect with colleagues during the workday.

Walking groups are set to meet at the northwest corner of the new Sugihara Hall at 11:30 a.m., noon and 12:30 p.m., on Wednesday, April 20, in recognition of National Walking Day. The groups will follow a one-mile loop around part of campus.

Ideas to prioritize physical and social health that week include blocking time on your calendar to remind yourself to get up and walk or switching an existing meeting to a walking meeting.

Participants are asked to track their walk time throughout the week, how they feel during the day and if they felt more or less productive. A survey can be filled out at the end of the week. Each day counts as one entry for a chance to win an NDSU water bottle or a free visit to the wellness center. Bonus entries are available for participants that upload a picture of where they walked, their walking buddy or their team during a walking meeting.

“The President’s Council for Campus Well-being is excited to host our first walking event to promote not only physical well-being but also social connection and mental health,” said Nicole Outka, health promotion graduate assistant and council member helping to organize the event. “Increasing awareness around well-being is influential on a person’s health, happiness and success. We hope to see many staff and faculty join us throughout the week and continue this event for years to come.”

The council was formed to support the academic mission of the university by taking a holistic approach to increasing and sustaining all aspects of campus well-being. The council brings together a multi-disciplinary group of NDSU faculty, staff, students and community partners to address a range of social and environmental factors that strengthen the health and well-being of our campus community.

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