HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) — James Madison University will extend its commitment to foster health and well-being across campus as it formally adopts the Okanagan Charter Oct. 8 from 2-2:30 p.m. at the Festival Conference and Student Center lawn.
Created in June 2015, the charter provides institutions with a common language, principles and a cross-campus, health-promotion framework. JMU is the first Virginia university to sign the Okanagan Charter.
JMU joined the U.S. Health Promoting Campus Network in 2022. Since then, campus-wide health efforts have stressed productive, engaged learning and a strong sense of community, all in a holistic effort to create synergy across teaching, learning, research and engagement.
“By adopting the Okanagan Charter, JMU is committing to embedding health into all aspects of campus culture across administration, operations, and academics, and leading health promotion action and collaboration,” JMU President Charlie King said in a news release.
“JMU will support the charter now and into the future by ensuring that all campus practices and policies are laser focused on our students, our faculty and staff, and our community – both locally and globally,” King added.
The university also promotes health across campus through its strategic plan, the President’s Council on Health and Well-being, people-focused programs such as Balanced Dukes, and JED Foundation initiatives.
