The university adopted the Okanagan Charter at a ceremony on March 27, 2025, signalling its ability and commitment to join the US Health Promoting Campuses Network.
Purdue University Fort Wayne signed the Okanagan Charter on March 27, 2025. By signing the charter, the university was able to join the US Health Promoting Campuses Network, which signals its dedication to sustainability and the health of its students, faculty, and staff, and the larger community.
According to an article on Purdue University Fort Wayne’s website, Ron Elsenbaumer, who serves as the chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne, was quoted as saying of the development, “With this important step, we reaffirm our commitment to a culture that values the well-being of every individual in our campus community. This initiative continues to build upon the strategic work already underway to make PFW a premier institution committed to student and employee well-being, retention, and success at all levels.”
The Okanagan Charter is, according to the website of the US Health Promoting Campuses Network, an “aspirational document” whose purpose is to “guide colleges and universities, using their unique positions and roles in research, teaching and service to their communities, to be leaders for the world in developing and modeling health-promoting strategies in their campus settings.” The Okanagan Charter was created in 2015 and the US Health Promoting Campuses Network was created in 2020 as a “support network that helps campuses define, develop, and create strategies and metrics that help define what it means to be a health promoting campus, recognizing that it will be different for each campus based on their unique circumstances, resources, and needs.”
Kerrie Fineran, the chief of campus and community wellbeing, said, “Health Promoting Campuses are committed to strengthening communities through intentional contributions to the wellbeing of people, places, and the planet. We want our students, faculty, and staff to feel connected, purposeful, and see PFW as a place that genuinely supports them to thrive personally and professionally.”
Purdue University Fort Wayne signed the Okanagan Charter at its annual Wellbeing Summit that promotes self care activities to the community. At this year’s event, in addition to the signing, the school also introduced its new Division of Community and Campus Wellbeing.
Purdue University Fort Wayne has become the 38th school in the United States to join the US Health Promoting Campuses Network.
For more information about Purdue University Fort Wayne, visit the school’s website.