AARON SKUBBY, Editor-in-Chief—

A partnership with the Ohio State University is the latest in a growing number of advancements that Denison is making in pursuit of promoting student wellness. But how is Denison making sure that its wellness offerings are more than just petting puppies and blowing bubbles?

Vice President of Student Life Dr. Alex Miller and Associate Vice President of Student Life Dr. Julie Tucker sat down with The Denisonian to explain what the newly announced OSU partnership entails, as well as the future of wellness on Denison’s campus.

The partnership with OSU is primarily pertaining to three new staff hires that will be made for the Fall 2022 semester. These three positions are a director of health and wellbeing, a director of mental wellbeing, and a psychiatrist. 

“Right now we are seeing that the needs of our current students are far greater than what we can provide right now with our current scope of care. So partnering with OSU I think is a good win for Denison,” Miller said.

The three new employees will technically be employed by OSU, but they will work full time on Denison’s campus. Denison will help with the selection process, but OSU will tap into broader recruitment networks for finding possible candidates.

These personnel changes come at the same time as the finished construction of the Ann and Thomas Hoaglin Wellness Center, which is being designed to have a “clinical” side and a “wellness” side. As such, wellness has been a major topic of conversation at Denison, particularly pertaining to student mental health.

Tucker explained the challenge that Denison is facing in regards to mental health services. “How is it that in addition to the fantastic counseling services that we provide, how do we begin to change the culture and narrative on campus around wellness in general, and mental health specifically?” she said.

The Hoaglin Center will have increased offerings in terms of overall wellness, such as spaces for mediation, yoga, student collaboration, and more. But, as Miller and Tucker explain, the conversation about wellness extends well beyond the newly constructed walls of the Wellness Center. “How do we get past the bubbles and puppies? But I feel like that’s where we’ve been stuck as an institution. And now it seems like students want more,” Miller said. 

Tucker explained that mental wellness isn’t only about counseling services, but anything from how we’re impacted by the food we eat, the work we are assigned, or the environments in which we live.

Equity is also a challenge that many students and community members have pointed out regarding mental health on campus. Tucker is optimistic that by connecting with a broader talent pool through the connection with OSU, that Denison can be better positioned to connect with more diverse counseling staff. She also indicated that wellness initiatives are in line with Denison forward initiatives, and that other advancements like cultural competency training for counseling staff are a priority.

Both Miller and Tucker emphasized the need for student input in conversations about wellness that have in many ways been lost during the relative social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. If mental health and wellness is important to you, keep an eye out for ways to get engaged with the conversation. As Denison tries to open a new chapter in regards to wellness, it is us students who get to determine what will be written.

Students with questions can reach out to Dr. Alex Miller at [email protected] or Julie Tucker at [email protected].