The Bill Rosehart Student Health and Wellness Program Fund
To honour Bill Rosehart as his ten year appointment as Dean of the Schulich School of Engineering comes to a close we will establish the Bill Rosehart Student Wellness Program Fund. This fund will support space and programming for the mental health and wellbeing of engineering students.
Since becoming dean in 2014, the Schulich School of Engineering has undergone a massive transformation. From the official opening of the new CNRL Engineering Complex in 2016 to the launch of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and new programs such as Sustainable Systems Engineering and Engineering Physics, Bill has left an indelible mark on our school. With the new strategic plan, Schulich Momentum: Enhancing Community, Expanding Impact, Bill’s vision for the future builds on the legacy we have as a school in terms of academic and community success.
The Student Health and Wellness Room and Certificate Program at the Schulich School of Engineering has been a passion project for Bill. Under his leadership, the Schulich School of Engineering opened the Health and Wellness Room (ENA 06) in 2019. Staffed by engineering students trained in peer support this is a place for students to connect, de-stress and practice techniques to help better manage the mental health challenges that can come with the demands of studying engineering. Bill recognized this challenge and wanted to ensure students have safe and accessible opportunities to take breaks from the pressures of their rigorous program.
Also, under Bill’s leadership a certificate program promoting student resiliency and mental health was created. Through this certificate, students learn strategies to improve their own well-being, which can then be shared to support others in their community. Content for this non-credit program is incorporated into first- and second-year courses. This certificate, in addition to other co-curricular activities, are ways to ensure that every student who enters engineering has an opportunity to develop coping, self-regulation and stress-management strategies.
The Bill Rosehart Student Health and Wellness Program Fund will ensure that Bill’s vision will be sustainable to support the Schulich School or Engineering Students and their wellness far into the future.