Office of Student Life
Student Wellness Center

Environmental Wellness

The environmentally well person recognizes the responsibility to preserve, protect and improve the environment and appreciates the interconnectedness of nature and the individual. The environmentally well person also feels safe in their surroundings, creates an environment that supports personal well-being, accesses resources and engages with the community.  

Taking an Active Role in Your Environmental Wellness

Engage in sustainable habits such as recycling, donating old items, reusing items, and taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint and conserve energy and water whenever possible. Increase your awareness of where your food and items come from, how they are sourced and how they are made. Spend time outside in nature. 

Promoting Environmental Wellness In and Outside the Classroom 

Environmental Wellness is more than just sustainability and making smart decisions as it relates to the environment. The environments we create for students, both in and outside the classroom, have a major impact on their success while at Ohio State. Faculty and staff can build a wellness focused classroom and work, living, and social spaces for Ohio State students by intentionally building relationships, vocalizing support for mental and physical health, and making conscious decisions as it relates to work and school projects. 

Examples of Environmental Wellness Activities and Promotion inside the classroom: 

  • Host class outside when possible  
  • Only print documents when necessary 
  • Utilize Carmen to give students handouts and assignments to complete virtually 
  • Virtual assignment submissions 
  • Utilize DocuSign 
  • Normalize self-care in the classroom – allow students to step out of class without asking (restroom breaks, water refill, content is triggering or upsetting) – this normalizes leaving and does not stigmatize a student  

Examples of Environmental Wellness Activities and Promotion outside the classroom:  

  • Instructional signs near garbage and recycling containers 
  • Weekly Wellness Walks 
  • Craft night to create home décor for apartments 
  • Plant night with potting succulents and decorating pots 
  • Community Garden 

Environmental Wellness Resources