The Advisory Council on Wellness was established in 2017 as an appointed group of both undergraduate and graduate students who advise the Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing on the salient issues and concerns directly related to student wellness and health across campus.
The Advisory Council recognizes the multifaceted nature of health and wellbeing and serves to:
- Represent and communicate student interests regarding health and wellbeing to the associate vice president for Student Health and Wellbeing.
- Promote effective communication and consultation with various student groups and organizations concerned with student health and wellbeing.
- Foster the awareness and knowledge of evidence-based information to various student groups and organizations related to student health and wellbeing.
Membership
Membership to the Advisory Council on Wellness is by appointment each year by the Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing. A call for applications for vacant Advisory Council seats is made in February of each year with selections made in March.
Publications, Presentations, Awards
The landmark and signature contribution of the Advisory Council on Wellness (ACW) to UA is the annual white paper that explores the contemporary issues of student health and wellbeing for UA students. The ACW also gives several different presentations throughout the year on various topics related to student health and wellbeing. On this page, you can find the titles of each year’s paper as well as the titles of the presentations and the names of the presenters.
If you are interested in learning more about the Advisory Council on Wellness or the work of the Council, please contact rmperez@ua.edu.
White Papers
- 2019 – 2020: “Exploring Mental Health Issues on The University of Alabama Campus”
- 2020 – 2021: “Exploring the Psychological and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students at The University of Alabama”
- 2021 – 2022: “The Efficacy of Campus Education and Resources on Student Sexual Health and Wellbeing”
- 2022- 2023: “An Analysis of Addiction at The University of Alabama and an Assessment of the Efficacy of Campus Resources for Recovery and Prevention”
- 2023-2024: “Insights on Financial Wellbeing in Relation to Basic Needs Insecurities and an Overview of Higher Education Resources for Food and Housing Assistance”
Presentations
Perez, R.M., Phillips, J.W., Rapadas, A.B., & Kappelman, J.A. (2021, January). Innovating student health and wellbeing: University of Alabama Advisory Council on Wellness [Virtual program presentation]. Program presented at the 2021 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region III Alabama drive-in conference.
Phillips, J.W., Rapadas, A.B., Kappelman, J.A., & Perez, R.M. (2021, March). Exploring the Psychological and Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students at The University of Alabama. Poster presented at the annual University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.
Perez, R.M., Townsend, J., Ames, A., Callicott, C. (2022, January). Data informed interventions to address student wellbeing during COVID-19. Program presented at the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Strategies Conferences, Boston, MA
Abele, A., Drews, M., Frederick, A., & Perez, R.M. (2022, April). The Efficacy of Campus Education & Resources on Student Sexual Health and Wellbeing. Poster presented at the annual University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.
Perez, R.M., Callandrillo, T., Barnette, V., Dyson, L., Hunter, T., Redd, M., Reddi, M., & Traub, O. (2023, January). Addressing student needs of health and wellbeing: Students advocating for students. Program presented at the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Strategies Conferences, Kansas City, MO.
Perez, R.M., Callicott, C., & Dyson, L. (2023, January). The Advisory Council on Wellness: Championing Wellbeing at the University of Alabama. Program presented at the 2023 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region III Alabama drive-in conference, Auburn, AL.
Bryant, W., Khan, O., Klass, K., & Perez, R.M. (2023, April). An Analysis of Addiction at The University of Alabama and an Assessment of the Efficacy of Campus Resources for Recovery and Prevention. Poster presented at the annual University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.
Perez, R.M., Drews, M.M., Jutze, M., Dobbs, C., & Vander Wal, G. (2024, January). A five-year report on student advocacy for student wellbeing. Program presented at the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Strategies Conferences, San Francisco, CA.
Collins, K., Hoaglin, T, Poff, W., & Perez, R.M. (2024, March). Examining student perspectives on basic needs insecurities and assessing higher education resources for food and housing assistance. Poster presented at the annual University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.
Perez, R.M., Bryant, W., Sunde, G., Gillani, S., & Grisaffe, A. (2025, January). Reimagining DEI through student wellbeing. Program presented at the annual National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Strategies conference, Boston, MA.
Awards
2022 – Honorable Mention Award (Human Environmental Sciences), The University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.
2023 – Second Place (Human Environmental Sciences), The University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.