Wellness Ambassadors
Position Description
The Wellness Ambassadors (WA) are a committed group of students who understand the importance of wellness and the value of connecting to resources on campus in order to be successful while at the University of Portland. Through the collaboration and support of the Office of Residence Life and Wellness Center, the Wellness Ambassadors are supported to help foster a healthy environment within the residence hall by connecting their peers with resources that allow each member of our community to thrive and sustain the challenges, rigors, and stress of pursuing an academic degree while living in intentional community in a university residence hall. This position may be incompatible with other leadership opportunities on campus.
Responsibilities*
- Presence and support in the planning of hall programs related to the dimensions of wellness (emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial).
Key programs topics will include alcohol education, Green Dot, health basics, academic needs, etc.
- Enrollment and the successful completion of a one-credit course offering related to wellness (class day/time to be determined; meets both semesters).
- Successful completion of Green Dot Training (opportunity will be facilitated by program staff).
- Identify and create opportunities for educating peers about wellness in the context of on-campus living.
- Seek out opportunities to work with other student leaders, connect peers to campus resources, and events that promote the concept of a healthy, balanced life while a student and beyond.
- Collaborate with cohort members to grow in awareness of wellness in all forms and dimensions.
- Respond to the particular needs of the hall.
*Detailed responsibilities will be unique for each particular hall and will be outlined in conversation with the residence hall Senior Staff.
Learning Objectives
- Leadership: Student leaders will learn, understand, and apply the seven (7) Leader Character Habits to their practice of leadership.
- Dimensions of Wellness: Student leaders will develop an understanding of the eight (8) dimensions of wellness.
- Collaboration: Student leaders will be able to collaborate with their fellow peers, student organizations, and faculty/staff to create opportunities for co-curricular connections around health and wellness – both for themselves and for their hall community.
- Development: Student leaders will develop transferable leadership skills, particularly related to community development and communication.
- Resource Awareness: Student leaders will be able gain greater awareness of resources on campus.
- Reflection: Student leaders will reflect on experiences (their own experiences, as well as the experiences of their cohort members) in order to grow in their peer mentoring/ministry/leadership skills.
- Application: Student leaders will practice aligning their espoused values with their lived values.
Applicant Qualities
- Passion, interest, and desire to engage and grow in one's understanding of wellness.
- Previous hall involvement and commitment preferred.
- Participation in community health, wellness, prevention efforts at UP, or the equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to engage peers and build community.
- Creativity to respond to the needs of the hall.
- WIllingness to collaborate.
Time Commitment & Required Availability
- Approximately 2-5 hours per week.
- Early move-in for Fall semester** for on-boarding and to assist with welcoming new students on move-in day.
- Enrollment and weekly participation in connected academic course offering.
- Regular 1:1 advising meetings with Senior Hall Staff, and program staff.
- Presence and planning of all events or attendance at campus events with residents.
Benefits for Participation
- Early-arrival and move-in for Fall semester**
- Hall swag, name tag, and experience as a hall student leader within the residence hall community.
- Academic course credit for successful completion of the affiliated academic class.
- Ongoing leadership development and formation.
- Transferable skills to be leveraged for future leadership positions and employment.
** For the 2023-2024 academic year, ambassadors would be asked to move in by Monday, August 21, 2023 (submit to change based on training schedule).
The responsibilities of each Ambassador may differ slightly to reflect the unique communities in which they live, and may be adjusted to better fit the community through regular conversations with residence hall staff.
How to Apply
Please complete your leadership application by visiting the Lead @ UP webpage.
Contact
For questions regarding this position or program, please contact the Associate Director for Support and Development in the Office of Residence Life at reslife@up.edu, or the Wellness Education & Prevention Program Coordinator in the Wellness Center at wellness@up.edu.