Today@Dal

In 2019, the first Workplace Wellness Grants were distributed to nine projects.  This is the last in a series of updates on the projects and their activities and results. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted their ability to implement their plans and we appreciate the efforts of all those involved.

The Department of Biology and Environmental Science in the Faculty of Science held a series of nature walks on the Studley Campus. Six walks took place between May and October 2019, with participation ranging from 10 to 20 people. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Sixty-eight out of the 69 respondents reported that their mood improved after the walk.  Blog posts about the walks can be found here: https://dalbiodiversity.home.blog

Security Services and the School of Occupational Therapy (OT) joined forces to optimize the work-life balance of those working shift work. One group of OT students conducted a thorough needs assessment using various methods and designed a learning opportunity focused on the area of greatest need: managing stress. Follow-ups were coordinated with a second group of OT students to assess each person's ability to implement what they learned, despite having to adjust due to the pandemic. A redo of the assessment showed that fewer individuals listed managing stress as a primary concern. This project harnessed the enthusiasm of Dal students and gave them an opportunity to address real-world experiences in developing a customized intervention process.

A full summary of the projects can be found at MyDal (NetID login). ​

The deadline for 2021-2022 grant submissions is February 20, 2021. Get details and the grant application here.