PLU Grad Week: Image of students walking on upper quad

Wellbeing Ecology at PLU

At PLU, we understand wellbeing as an ecology. Ecologies are interdependent, complex relationships between individuals, their environment, and others with whom they share that environment; therefore, the wellbeing of one person is interconnected with the wellbeing of all. Wellbeing is not a fixed state of being; rather, we understand wellbeing as a spectrum from “surviving” to “thriving,” through various seasons and supported (or challenged) by various experiences and conditions. As the present is continually changing, shaped by events in the world and in our individual lives, our goal is to promote multidimensional wellbeing for all Lutes, in our immediate and extended communities, so that our ecology may flourish.

Examples of PLU's Wellbeing Ecology

Sage the Squirrel - a cartoon brown squirrel in a PLU yellow sweater

Expanding Connections Within a Wellbeing Ecology

2024-Present: In Fall 2024, PLU rolled out Sage the Squirrel. Sage is a textbot that does direct outreach to students to check in on multiple dimensions of the student experience; wellbeing, financial, social, and academic. This tool allows us to hear directly from students and do direct outreach. The wellbeing ecology is built of the dynamically interdependent experiences that support individuals and communities. Sage points students toward various points of the ecology to meet their needs at that point in time.

Parkland Community Thriving with Community Meal

2023-Present: Beginning with the first meal in fall 2023 and continuing monthly during the academic year, the Community Meals program is an ongoing partnership between PLU’s Offices of Campus Ministry, Wellbeing Services & Resources, and Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability and Trinity Lutheran Church in Parkland. This program supports multiple dimensions of wellbeing (e.g., physical, mental, spiritual, social environmental) by providing a regular space to gather in community and share a nutritious meal that is sustainably sourced. What, When, & Where? Come share a FREE meal with neighbors from the PLU, Trinity, and Parkland communities! Meals are 2nd Thursdays from 5-6pm. All are welcome to come for dinner from the Parkland community and PLU. Location: Trinity Lutheran Church – 12115 Park Ave S., Parkland, WA. Get Involved: We need volunteers: Sign up for Fall 2024 volunteer slots.

PLU in yellow lettering over a grey rose window

First-Year Transitions: From Arriving to Thriving

2023-Present: In Fall 2023, PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU (a one-credit course that had existed in various iterations since the early 2000’s) became part of PLU’s core curriculum (or courses required to graduate). Part of the First-Year Experience Program (FYEP), PLUS 100 is a special class designed to help students create connections, learn about campus resources, and map their PLU journey on their own terms, with their own self-authored definitions of success. PLUS 100 is guided by the THRIVE framework, which focuses on multidimensional wellbeing as foundational to thriving while in college at PLU.

Brain & flowers

Supporting Mental Health & Flourishing

2021-Present: As we emerged from remote learning during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, ASPLU (PLU’s student government) partnered with Counseling Services to expand mental health programming on-campus to a focused week of events to refresh student flourishing during the fall mid-term season, when a variety of factors (e.g., changing seasons, darker/rainier days, increasing intensity of academic coursework, roommate conflicts, breakups, etc.) contribute to potentially stressful time in the academic year. This partnership has grown into the annual tradition of Mental Health Awareness Week, a series of events during October, including Dog Days, Snack Shack Pop Up, and rotating events in partnership with athletics, academic departments, clubs, and other groups.

Yellow, Purple, Blue, and Pink petals make a crown over the words THRIVE at PLU

THRIVE: Transitions, Holistic wellbeing, Retention, Innovation, Vocation, & Engagement

2020-Present: As learning and engagement modalities needed to creative shift during 2020 in response to the global pandemic, the THRIVE program was established to think about proactive ways to support students’ wellbeing and thriving all year long as they travel through the many seasons of the academic year (i.e., the “Rs” of rooting, refresh, reflect, renew, routine, rejuvenate, rejoice, and rest). THRIVE continues today as a co-curricular program designed to meet students where they are at during the highs and lows of each semester with just in time, active, passive, synchronous, and asynchronous opportunities and resources, including highlighting these via a regular eNewsletter and web landing page.

Share Your Feedback About PLU's Wellbeing Ecology

As we continue to grow and evolve PLU’s Wellbeing Ecology, we want your feedback! At various events and in Wellbeing Services & Resources offices you will have the opportunity to complete a brief survey.

You can also click on the link below anytime to complete a brief survey letting us know how your experiences with PLU programs, events, services, or other resources have supported your wellbeing at PLU.

Wellbeing Ecology Feedback Form
QR Code for PLU Wellbeing Ecology Survey (linked on page)