Student Body President Jess Errico has issued an executive order creating her first executive department, the Department of Student Wellness.
This executive order, issued Tuesday, establishes a new executive department whose primary purpose is meant to be responsible for programing and advocacy surrounding student wellness. Errico, a fifth-year studying mechanical and aerospace engineering, said that as the topic of health changes, the ways in which Student Government approaches the topic must change as well.
“With the increased university focus on a holistic definition of wellness alongside rising trends in mental health and food nutrition, I felt that it was imperative that Student Government mirror these trends in addressing and being proactive about what it means to be a campus dedicated towards not only student health, but student wellness as a whole,” Errico said.
According to Errico, having a department focused on solely advocating for student wellness will be a more effective means of Student Government addressing the issue. In the past, it has been logged under other executive departments.
“This executive order seeks to allow that advocacy on the larger topic of student wellness by creating a Department on Student Wellness concept of student wellness rather than dividing up pieces of student wellness departments,” Errico said.
According to the executive order, NC State students currently pay $292.50 in fees for campus entities such as Wellness and Recreation and Student Health Services. Applications for the director of Student Wellness and director of Athletics are also currently open until Saturday, August 25.
Errico said that in order to start planning for the department, there is consideration being put into fast-tracking the appointment of the Director for Student Wellness.
“We are considering fast-tracking the appointment to give them time to get started quickly,” Errico said. “But of course, we’ll be looking to appoint in whatever way we can and is possible.”
Part of the department’s role will also be working with campus partners such as Dining and Wellness and Recreation to put on programs and discuss items that can be addressed by a partnership.
“This department will become the primary advocate on topics related to student wellness which could include Student Health, the counseling centers, Wellness and Recreation, University Dining, tackling topics around nutrition, around stopping the stigma around mental health, things of that nature,” Errico said.
Students who would like to apply for the position of Director of Student Wellness can apply here. The full executive order is attached to this article.
