WKU News

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As we navigate the demands of our academic and professional lives, it can be easy to overlook the importance of human connection. Yet, strong relationships are fundamental to our well-being and to fostering a thriving, supportive campus community.

Inspired by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy's strategy to combat loneliness, which relies on a national framework centered on rebuilding social connection as a public health priority, Dr. Martha Sales and I personally invite you to participate in our university's "5-for-5 Connection Challenge" beginning September 14th. This simple but powerful initiative challenges you to perform five small acts of connection over five consecutive days that will build and strengthen your relationships and inspire others to incorporate connection as a daily part of their lives.

The goal is not a major undertaking, but instead a series of  intentional moments too:

• Express gratitude: Tell a colleague or fellow student you appreciate them
• Offer support: Ask a team member how they are really doing
• Ask for help: Seek advice from a peer or mentor

You can customize the challenge to fit your routine; all we ask is that you pick five consecutive days to connect with colleagues across your division, students in your major, or other members of our university community. By taking just a few minutes each day, we can collectively strengthen the social fabric of our institution and elevate the WKU Spirit across our campus. Taking these simple actions to improve your social health can foster better social connection, which is associated with improved heart and brain health, protection against depression and anxiety, and even lowered risk of premature death.

We look forward to seeing the positive effects of this challenge on our Hill. Go Tops!

Sincerely,

Bud Fischer and Martha Sales

Here are a few examples:

Express Gratitude

• Thank a friend, mentor, co-worker, or loved one for their impact on your life.
• Call, text, or send a note: tell someone you are grateful they are in your life!
• Compliment someone who deserves recognition.
• Thank someone for a specific time they helped you.

Offer Support

• Give support through acts of service, pay it forward, or give the gift of time to someone you care about – whether it means doing something with them or something for them.
• Check in with someone and let them know you are there.
• Offer to help someone with daily tasks.
• Volunteer with a local organization that is important to you.

Ask for or Accept Help

• Receive support by asking for help, accepting the help, and leaning on your support system.
• Let someone know you are having a tough time.
• Tell a loved one how they can better support you.
• Reach out for professional mental health support. For students, please call or email the Counseling Center at 270-745-3159 or counseling.center@wku.edu. For faculty and staff, please contact HR at 270-745-5360, to learn about the Employee Assistance Program.