Colleagues from across campus representing a variety of offices work collaboratively to bring wellness initiatives to the Iona community. Some of these offices include Athletics, Office of Mission and Ministry, Counseling, Health Services, and Student Development.

Our collective goal is to empower our students and adequately provide them with the resources necessary to succeed in achieving their personal goals in the areas of health and overall wellness.

Below is an outline of various wellness programs that these departments offer. For more detailed information contact the departments directly.

ATHLETICS

In compliance with their mission the Athletic department offers many opportunities for student athletes, and non-athletes, to “develop strong mental, physical, and social skills necessary to meet daily...challenges.”

They do this by coordinating:

• the Intramurals Program that fosters healthy competition in individual and team sport activities. Intramural sports include basketball, soccer, flag football, and lacrosse;
• various instruction and sessions on strength and conditioning training, weight training, and proper machine utilization;
• a Division I athletics program and training on all dimensions of wellness for our athletes; and open gym recreation hours for self-directed activity.

OFFICE OF MISSION AND MINISTRY

The staff of the Office of Mission and Ministry is dedicated to building a community of faith and compassion. We recognize spirituality, and in its’ appreciation of life and purpose of existence, that it comes differently to each of us; and in turn offer a multitude of vehicles to find personal spirituality:

• community service opportunities both locally and globally;
• opportunities and venues for quiet prayer, meditation, reflection and discussion;
• Sunday and daily mass, weekly inter-faith prayer opportunities, and retreats for busy people;
• The Iona Spirituality Institute

COUNSELING CENTER

The Counseling Center staff is available to meet with any student who wishes to. In addition to individual general consultation a few of the many wellness programs offered here include:

• Individualized Wellness Plan (IWP) where students are invited to meet with a counselor and then the staff of athletics and health services to develop their own plan for enhancing wellness.
• Smoking Cessation Seminars are available through the year for students who wish to stop smoking
• Stress Management Seminars
• Various support groups including Transition to College Support Group, a Bereavement Group, and CHOICES seminars focusing on good decision making.

HEALTH SERVICES

The true mission and function of the Health Services department relates to overall wellness. Besides meeting the needs of students who are feeling “under the weather” or whom have questions regarding health related issues, they offer a number of proactive initiatives for all students to take part in if desired. These include:

• CPR classes
• Nutrition counseling
• Blood drives
• Smoking cessation programs (Great American Smokeout)
• Confidential HIV testing
• Men's health clinics
• Breast cancer awareness programs (American Cancer Society campaign which includes Testicular cancer information)
• STD workshops
• Management of stress related illness

OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

The Office of Student Development, in conjunction with the student wellness team, coordinates wellness programming in a variety of venues on campus. This includes:

• non-credit aerobic classes including Pilates, yoga, step aerobics, kick boxing, karate, and self-defense;
• non-credit dance classes including Irish step-dancing, swing dancing, and various forms of Latin dancing;
• a variety of wellness workshops, speakers, discussion groups, the gym buddies program, and running groups;
• COMPASS Leadership series focusing on maintaining balance and personal wellness for the active student leader
• Robert V. LaPenta Student Union recreation programming featuring billiards, darts, chess, and ping pong tournaments, and fun “nooner” inter- active activities;
• a vast array of programs, organizations, and activities to enable students to connect, engage, and relax outside of the classroom.