BCIT recognizes the crucial role of student well-being in academic success, and is committed to creating a healthy campus environment. Our Student Well-being and Resilience Framework involves all partners in fostering conditions that support learning and health.
As part of this student-centred approach, the BCIT Community Well-being Grant program support initiatives that promote a thriving campus community.
A total of three grants will be offered up to the amount of $500 (you can request a smaller amount). There will be guidance and mentorship from the Health Promotion Strategist/Student Life Office (e.g. meetings to discuss event or project objectives).
Granting objective
Boost initiatives that enhance and promote mental health and well-being.
Evaluation Criteria
The grant will be awarded to the 5 initiatives that are better aligned with the following parameters:
- Align with the Okanagan Charter Calls to Action:
- Sustainable beyond the life of the grant.
- Include interdisciplinary or interdepartmental collaboration.
- Align with BCIT’s Student Well-being and Resilience Framework and JED’s Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention.
Resilience and capacity building
In addition to providing supports for those experiencing distress, developing emotional literacy, coping skills and the ability to self-advocate are all vital to on-going, life-long health and well-being.
Equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
Addressing intersecting[2] identities and the lived experience are integral for holistic approaches to health and well-being. This includes consideration of healing, cultural pride, affirmation, accessibility and empowerment.
Social connection
Human beings are hard-wired for attachment and connectedness. Fostering social connection and quality relationships are foundational elements of well-being and resilience.
Additional information
Apply here
Please submit your application form by January 12, 2024, for winter 2024 funding. If you would prefer to submit your project on a Word document version, email student_life@bcit.ca.
Apply for the grantSuccessful applicants will be notified by January 26, 2024.
[1] Health Promotion is defined as the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health (Ottawa Charter, 1986). Health promotion is not just the responsibility of the health sector, but must engage all sectors to take an explicit stance in favour of health, equity, social justice, and sustainability.
[2] “Intersectionality, a concept developed by scholar Kimberle Williams Crenshaw in 1989, is a way of understanding the impact and experiences of overlapping and intersecting identities. By taking an intersectional approach to mental health education, we acknowledge how multiple forms of inequity can sometimes be compounded to create unique challenges including discrimination and disadvantage” (UBC Intersectional Approaches to Mental Health Education, 2020, pg.4).
Acknowledgement: The following content and program are entirely based on North Isand Colleges (NIC) “CARE Grants”. We want to thank Mez Jiwaji, Associate Director, Student Life and Rachel Birch, Student Life & Outreach Liaison for sharing their work with us so generously. All the content originated at NIC, and more information can be found at https://www.nic.bc.ca/about-us/health-and-well-being/care-grants/.