Haub Law Hosts First Wellbeing Fair, A University-Wide Initiative

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University held a Wellbeing Fair this week bringing together students, faculty, and staff to promote wellness through a variety of related activities and resources. More than 15 tables, including many staffed by community partners, healthcare providers, members of the legal community, and on-campus departments, joined the Wellbeing Fair and provided a wealth of helpful information and resources, including recipes, samples and tips for healthy eating, education on drug prevention/intervention, blood pressure and BMI screenings, opportunities for art expression and more.

The event was part of a University-wide initiative that included the adoption of the Okanagan Charter, an international framework for promoting wellness on campuses globally which was signed into effect at the Law School by Dean Horace Anderson.

The Okanagan Charter has two calls to action: to embed health into all aspects of campus culture, across the administration, operations, and academic mandates; and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. Created in June 2015, the Charter provides institutions with a common language, principles, and framework to become health and wellbeing promoting campuses.

“Wellbeing is so important, in particular for law students and lawyers,” said Dean Anderson. “At Haub Law, we are committed to supporting our students’ mental, physical and overall wellbeing, and helping them learn how to balance the demands of school, life and careers early on. The Wellbeing Fair was a great experience for our community and a chance to recharge.”

To fulfill its goals for student wellness, last year Haub Law launched a Wellness Project which includes an ongoing series of programming and campus initiatives incorporating the eight pillars of wellness: mental and emotional, social, intellectual, financial, spiritual, physical, occupational, and environmental. The Wellbeing Fair is part of this initiative and the Law School is also planning to open a Wellness Center this Spring which will house a space for additional wellness programming.

The Wellness Fair was organized by the law school’s Office of Student and Campus Affairs. Special thanks to the many Pace departments and programs who supported the event at Haub Law, in addition to many community partners including the WWBA, WCBA, the NYCBA Lawyer Assistance Program, Dorf & Nelson LLP, the ChIPs Network, Artist Geoffrey Stein, Planet Fitness, White Plains Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital, and Northwell Health.