On March 3, Bobcats FIRST hosted Wellness Day, offering students a pause from their academic routines to focus on emotional, mental and physical health through campus-wide surveys and interactive activities. 

The day began with assessments, as classes and coursework were canceled and students and faculty received surveys via email. Emily Jarvis, the assistant vice president for student health and wellbeing, said the surveys only took about 30 to 40 minutes to complete and play a critical role in shaping university decisions for student wellbeing.

“It really wasn’t a big obligation, and it really helps us when we get a strong response rate on surveys to make great decisions for the university,” Jarvis said. “The goal is to improve the student experience in all kinds of ways, in terms of health and wellness, student experience and things that you do outside of class.”

Jarvis explained that while her office regularly distributes surveys via email, low response rates prompted them to think of other ways to get students engaged. 

“By concentrating it to one day, we kind of made a promise to students that we won’t ask you to do these surveys all the time,” Jarvis said. “If we can get a 20% response rate instead of a 5% response rate, we can make decisions that really do represent the student experience rather than just guessing what students need.”

After completing the assessments, students transitioned into Fresh Check Day, which featured twelve interactive booths centered on different areas of wellness. Physical health activities included goat yoga, aqua massages and an inflatable obstacle course, while mental health screenings and informational materials were also available. Students could visit art stations and create words-of-affirmation crafts for emotional well-being. 

“The afternoon is when we really wanted to focus on student well-being,” Jarvis said. “When students did eight booths, they got a prize, really just encouraging them to get out, do something to fill their own cup and take a break in the semester.”

Students who visited eight of the twelve booths received a free lunch and their choice of a T-shirt or a ticket to build their own bobcat stuffed animal. While some students expressed mixed feelings about the mandatory aspect of the day, many said they still enjoyed the activities. 

“It can be fun, but when they’re mandatory, then it just feels like something you have to do,” said Abigail Crosby, a freshman chemistry major. “But I really liked painting a bird house and the bracelet making.”

Delaney Riley, a freshman psychology major, said she especially enjoyed goat yoga and art activities.

“I did like watching all the goats and goat yoga – it was super cute, getting to pet them,” Riley said. “I also liked the watercolor booth.”

For other students, especially those in rigorous programs such as education and nursing, Wellness Day provided a meaningful break from demanding schedules. 

“Honestly, I was really excited for Wellness Day,” said Emmie Carter, a junior middle grades education major. “If we went to Wellness Day, then we didn’t have to go to placement, and I thought it was a really good way to build community inside of the college and also show care for students.”

Beyond activities and incentives, students reflected on the broader meaning of wellness in a college setting, noting the importance of prioritizing self-care.

“I think wellness as a student is being able to self-reflect and see where you’re at emotionally and cognitively and assess those things for your health overall,” Carter said.

Riley noted that a key part of general wellness is balancing emotional and mental health amid a busy academic and social life.

“Wellness means just balancing everything really well with emotional and mental health and social life and also all the academic things and just making sure you’re taking care of yourself,” Riley said.

At the end of the day, Jarvis said she hoped students walked away feeling refreshed and supported by the university. 

“I hope that they really understand that GCSU cares about them as more than just people in the classroom,” Jarvis said. “We care about you as whole, people who are growing and learning and we want to be a part of that. With all the smiles I’ve seen all day, I think students are really getting that.”