About Us
Mission Statement
WellCats is a nationally recognized, evidenced-based, comprehensive employee wellness program designed to inspire Texas State employees and the community to enhance wellness – faculty and students in teaching and learning, research, and service. WellCats is Texas State University’s comprehensive employee wellness program dedicated to building a worksite culture that makes ‘the healthy choice the easy choice’."
What is Wellness?
Wellness is living fully in each of the dimensions of wellness and achieving balance among those dimensions - in other words, not just focusing on physical or emotional wellness. All of the dimensions are connected to one another, so efforts you make to improve one dimension will positively impact each of the others. Over the course of your life, attaining a high level wellness is achieved by addressing all of the dimensions at one time or another.
Remember that wellness is not the absence of illness, disease or stress. You can achieve wellness even when you are experiencing these challenges in your life.
More on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness
Health vs. Wellness – Are They the Same?
Simply put – NO! Whereas being healthy refers to your overall physical and mental condition, wellness refers to living with a positive approach to enhance your quality of life. In the simplest of terms being healthy is being free from mental and physical disease; but to have wellness, you have to live each area of your life in a way that will help you reach your full potential – that is where the ‘8 Dimensions of Wellness’ comes in…
Is learning to live in harmony with the planet and our natural world by being more aware of and actively reducing our footprint through actions such as recycling, reusing, and the repurposing of harmful and wasteful products.
Is the ability to learn how to manage financially related stress by creating a clear plan with goals that addresses the five key themes of money.
Is maintaining an open perspective and active curiosity of the world around us through academic pursuits, the engagement of hobbies, and appreciation of the arts, and through meaningful and stimulating conversations with others.
Is the active incorporation of a healthy eating pattern that prioritizes whole, minimally processed foods, coupled with regular exercise, to promote health and prevent disease.
Is achieved when one is able to find value and meaning in the workplace, to cope and manage stressful situations, to build and maintain relationships with co-workers, and to feel energized by the contributions that they make.
Is the adoption of healthy habits like exercise and plentiful sleep, and the avoidance of unhealthy activities like smoking and a nutritionally deficient diet, that promote physical well-being.
Is achieved by having rich and meaningful connections with people in our lives, creating a support system, and being self-aware enough to comfortably accept life’s challenges while maintaining a positive perspective.
Is having a sense of meaning and purpose in your life created by exploring and finding balance of the five spiritual layers of self-discovery: the physical body, the energy body, the emotional body, the wisdom body, and the bliss body.
History
In March 2014, the Director of Human Resources with the support of the Vice President for Finance and Support Services received approval from the President’s Cabinet for the planning and development of an additional component to the Texas State Employee Wellness Program to be offered at no cost to employees. This addition would be supported by a one-time savings.
A human resources representative was assigned the task of devising a plan. She began by reviewing both the scientific literature and existing university employee wellness programs to identify optimal program components. She then conducted an environmental scan on campus and identified existing facilities and services, expertise, and policies that had potential to be foundational for this new addition to the Employee Wellness Program.
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Annual Reports
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Grants
- Burke, T., & Burns, M. Building a Culture of Health at Work: Assessing and Fostering Supervisor Support. Research Enhancement Grant funded by Texas State University 12/2017 — Awarded $16,000
- Dailey, S., & Burke, T. “Pumping up” Survey Research: Boosting Participation in Texas State University’s Total Wellness Program. Research Enhancement Grant funded by Texas State University 12/2015 — Awarded $16,000
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Research Articles
- 2017 | For Better or for Work: Dual Discourses in a Workplace Wellness Program
- Jan 2017 | Let's Work Out: Communication in Workplace Wellness Programs
- Sept 2017 | The Health Care Provider's Role in Supporting Positive Health Behavior Change: Developing an Effective and Supportive Communication Approach
- Nov 2017 | Genesis of an Employee Wellness Program at a Large University
- 2018 | Influences on Catered Event Ordering in a University Workplace: Development and Validation of the Understanding Food Ordering Survey
- Apr 22, 2018 | Effect of Group Health Behavior Change Coaching on Psychosocial Constructs Associated with Physical Activity Among University Employees
- May 3, 2023 | Employee Culture of Health Perceptions and the Development of a Training Intervention