Health, Well-Being and Work

New Health, Well-Being and Work Page Photo

It’s important for us at Truman State University to take the health and happiness of both our employees and students very seriously. Therefore, by providing the necessary programs and institutions to maintain that wellness for both students and staff, we hope to create a positive and healthy community for them here at Truman.

Assessing Employee Satisfaction

Every three years, Truman administers the HERI Faculty Survey in the fall semester and the Faculty and Staff Survey in the spring semester. The survey is administered through The University Assessment Committee and the Provost’s Office, with the results delivered to the Human Resources Office and Provost’s Office.  The results of the surveys are then reported to various committees and departments, with some results being open to the public at large. An example of a change undergoing implementation as a result of this survey is a new flexible workweek schedule that allows employees to schedule more hours in a day in order to shorten their work weeks.

The most recent survey, conducted in 2014-2015 school year, revealed a 77% Job Satisfaction & Support rating among Truman overall faculty and staff.

Wellness Program

For employees, Truman offers not only wellness programs such as the Exercise Time Program, but also the Employee Assistance Program, which offers counseling and referrals for other kinds of psychological or mental health issues. The Wellness Committee has also created a brochure titled, “Balance in Your Life,” available to all employees.

For students, several organizations provide students with opportunities to practice healthy habits and pick up wellness tips. The Student Affairs Committee is targeting stress relief resulting from financial, academic, social, future, and physical problems by hosting Money Mondays and Wellness Wednesday programs. Additionally, we offer a Wellness Zone in Pickler Library for students to unwind and relax with massage chairs, meditation, simple games and more. Residence Life also provides several health related programs throughout the year, and our Recreation Center provides free fitness classes in a variety of activities, from Zumba to Cycling.

Gender Neutral Housing

We at Truman state have established a standard of practice in which the Office of Residence Life will work one on one with any student who is transitioning, identifies as transgender, or expresses needs related to gender based housing, in order to accommodate any needs that student has. This practice is vital to student well-being and happiness, and ensures that the student has a comfortable learning and living environment in which to thrive and participate in the community.