Southern California University of Health Sciences Announced as the First Whole Health University at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine Conference

Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) announced its designation as the first “Whole Health University” during the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) Conference, titled “Bringing Whole Health to Life.” This milestone reflects SCU’s commitment to not only teaching Whole Health but to nurturing the Whole Health of its, students, faculty, and staff.

The announcement was made by SCU President and CEO Dr. John Scaringe at the AIHM Leadership Meeting, an event attended by representatives from some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the medical field. During his remarks, Dr. Scaringe spoke about the fact that a university is a “community” and, therefore, has a significant impact on the health and well-being of its members, just like any other community. He emphasized the importance of applying Whole Health principles across all levels of the university.

“Let’s bring those principles of Whole Health that we bring to our clinical care to our patients, faculty, staff, and students. Hopefully, they move through that experience where they truly understand how to work together with a Whole Health approach throughout the organization,” said Dr. Scaringe.

What Does It Mean to Be a Whole Health University?

SCU has always been focused on fostering a positive and supportive institutional culture. This new Whole Health University initiative extends the school’s efforts even further, with the goal of creating an environment that empowers everyone in the SCU ecosystem—students, faculty, and staff—to achieve their highest level of well-being.

To guide its efforts, SCU has established a formal framework that includes seven domains and related standards for each:

    1. Mission and Values

• The mission and values of the institution reflect a commitment to the principles of whole health
• A statement of whole health principles has been developed, communicated, and is frequently referenced to guide institutional decision making and resource allocation.

    2. Employee benefits and resources

• Fair, equitable pay practices and salaries
• Time off policies that are generous, reflect the diversity of its employees, and allow employees to participate in events that are meaningful to them personally
• Employee evaluation methods that reflect the mission and values of the institution and its commitment to whole health
• Benefits that provide support for physical, mental, and spiritual health
• Hiring practices that emphasize the mission and values of the institution and its commitment to whole health
• Flexible work environment (e.g. remote work, flexible hours)

   3. Student services and resources

• Policies and procedures that reflect the institution’s commitment to whole health and student thriving
• Promotion of the concept of self-care
• Access to mental health resources and services
• Robust academic support services
• A comprehensive orientation process that includes an introduction to the principles of whole health

   4. Faculty training and development

• Faculty policies and procedures that reflect the institution’scommitment to whole health
• A comprehensive orientation process that includes an introduction to the principles of whole health
• Training in the science of teaching and learning
• Robust development opportunities directly informed by faculty input

   5. Curricular and co-curricular learning

• A commitment to whole health principles is manifest in
  • University, program, and co-curricular learning outcomes
  • Program design and delivery
  • Assessment practices

   6. Physical and virtual environment

• Deliberately designed to reflect the importance of self-care and community as defined by the principles of whole health
• Prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity
• Appropriately balances efficiency and experience
• Virtual environment deliberately based upon best practices in accessibility, inclusivity, functionality, and user experience

   7. Scholarship

• Workshops and trainings tailored to the field of whole health
• Faculty recognition and reward systems that demonstrate the primacy of whole health to the university’s mission and values
• Supporting membership and participation in relevant associations and conferences
• Pursuing and maintaining formal organizational partnerships relevant to the advancement of whole health

Inspiring a Nationwide Movement

As Dr. Scaringe explained during his presentation at AIHM, he hopes that many other institutions (even those outside of the healthcare field) will adopt SCU’s Whole Health University framework to create communities that nurture the holistic well-being of all members.  By promoting these types of communities within academic environments, SCU hopes to accelerate the nation’s progress toward Whole Health.

To learn more about the process of becoming a Whole Health University and to explore how Whole Health principles can transform your institution, download the guide “The Whole Health University: Transforming the Mind, Body, and Spirit of Your Institution.”