In January 2008, a new student organization formed at IUPUI. Several students gathered in the new Campus Center to discuss improving the wellness culture on campus. A constitution was drafted and the Student Wellness Coalition at IUPUI was created. The student group has selected the nickname of SWELL to identify Student WELLness as its mission.
The coalition’s object is to increase the awareness of health and wellness to all current students at IUPUI through informative classes, events, programs and other offerings. The group intends to become an outreach organization supporting student health through education, health promotion, involvement, and motivation to the IUPUI community. The aim is to collaborate with other departments and services on campus that share similar goals to improve campus health.
Leadership
SWELL officers include president Keleigh Glover, a junior majoring in Pre-Med/Biology. She has been involved since the first meeting in January. “College is a time when students’ concern for their health and wellness often becomes a lesser priority. SWELL was created to educate students on the importance of wellness and to help counteract the negative effects that the stress of college-life can have on their health,” Keleigh explains.
Vice president Carrie Fife is a senior in SPEA majoring in Health Administration who plans on continuing her education by getting a Masters in Public Health. “I wanted to be involved with SWELL because I think prevention is the key to staying healthy for students my age. Most of the students on campus don't pay for health insurance because they are covered by their parents, or they simply don't think they need it. I believe that SWELL is easy for the students because we do all the hard work for you. We find what is offered on campus to help students stay fit and healthy. I think that preventative health is the easiest thing that one can do for their body” comments Carrie.
Gayle Brunner, a Pre-PT junior in the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management (PETM), is the secretary. “I became involved with SWELL because I wanted to share my ideas about health-related issues on the IUPUI campus. I think that, as SWELL grows, it can become an organization geared toward creating more opportunities for students to live a healthy lifestyle, through education and activities promoting healthy behaviors,” says Gayle.
John Tekippe, also a PETM student, is the treasurer. John is excited to be involved with SWELL. He looks forward to meeting other students who are striving to create a healthy campus.
Katie Carr, a graduate student in the School of Public Health is the publicity officer. Katie has experience in health education and promotion and knows the IUPUI community quite well. She believes that as a student-led organization, SWELL has the potential to be a powerful advocate for health and wellness at IUPUI, helping students and others make balanced, health-conscious decisions.
The faculty advisor, Nancy Barton M.S., a full-time PETM lecturer, agrees with the student’s vision and mission. “We are trying to make positive health-promoting improvements on campus,” says Barton.
Goals
SWELL promotes the importance of health and wellbeing on the IUPUI campus concentrating on nutrition, fitness and exercise, environmental, emotional, and social health. Goals include:
To promote nutrition, education, and wellness issues within the IUPUI community
To promote, and support physical activity
To promote and support use of non-motorized transport
To promote healthy food options across campus
To establish a communications/marketing plan for a campus nutrition and wellness initiatives
To support tobacco cessation initiatives promoting a smoke free campus
To promote and support the well-being of the body, mind and spirit through yoga, meditation and stress reduction efforts on campus
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The coalition’s object is to increase the awareness of health and wellness to all current students at IUPUI through informative classes, events, programs and other offerings. The group intends to become an outreach organization supporting student health through education, health promotion, involvement, and motivation to the IUPUI community. The aim is to collaborate with other departments and services on campus that share similar goals to improve campus health. 
Most of the students on campus don't pay for health insurance because they are covered by their parents, or they simply don't think they need it. I believe that SWELL is easy for the students because we do all the hard work for you. We find what is offered on campus to help students stay fit and healthy. I think that preventative health is the easiest thing that one can do for their body” comments Carrie. 
The faculty advisor, Nancy Barton M.S., a full-time PETM lecturer, agrees with the student’s vision and mission. “We are trying to make positive health-promoting improvements on campus,” says Barton.
