WED-069 - Mobilizing Campus Resources to Promote Student Well-being: The Bobcat Well-being and Resource Fair

Brief Abstract Summary: The Bobcat Well-Being and Resource Fair at Texas State University was developed to engage students in a multidimensional health promotion event through cross-campus and community collaboration. Using the Generalized Model for Program Planning, the planning team established goals, objectives, and a logic model but did not conduct a formal needs assessment due to an unsolicited offer from a local health organization to provide free body composition assessments for students as community outreach. This opportunity led to a wellness event centered on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. A planning committee was formed with representatives from student organizations, academic departments, and campus health and wellness services. Public health students played a central role in shaping event activities and messaging. This poster highlights the collaborative planning process as a replicable model for campus-based health promotion rooted in structured planning and student engagement.

Detailed abstract description:

Background: The Bobcat Well-Being and Resource Fair, scheduled for November 2025, was developed to engage Texas State University students, faculty, and staff in multidimensional health promotion through coordinated campus and community partnerships. This poster outlines the planning process for the event, guided by the Generalized Model for Program Planning. Although a formal needs assessment was not conducted, the planning team capitalized on a community outreach offer from a local health organization to provide free body composition screenings for students. This opportunity catalyzed the development of an event centered around the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

Methods: The primary organizer developed goals and objectives and constructed a logic model to guide planning efforts. The overarching goal was to educate students on their health and connect them with resources to help improve or maintain their well-being. With this goal in mind, a diverse planning committee was formed, composed of representatives from academic units, student organizations, and the Student Health Center. Public health students were engaged throughout the process, providing feedback on event components and representing the student voice in planning meetings. Partner contributions were coordinated through recurring committee discussions to ensure a cohesive event structure aligned with shared goals. Anticipated

Results: The event will feature tabling activities, student organization-led health assessment stations (e.g., body composition, functional assessments, vital signs), and educational presentations on topics such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and sexual health. Participation will be encouraged through a presenter scavenger hunt where students receive stamps for each activity engaged in, with completed cards entered into a raffle for donated wellness prizes. Evaluation measures will include attendance tracking, participant observations, exit surveys, and presenter feedback, aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024 Evaluation Framework.

Discussion: This planning process highlights how structured collaboration, opportunistic resource alignment, and student engagement can collectively advance campus-wide health promotion goals. The framework presented may be applied or adapted by public health educators aiming to foster holistic well-being and multi-stakeholder engagement in higher education settings.