Wellness Initiatives
Health & Well-being Programs
UCSC Diabetes Prevention Program
The UCSC Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a 1-year lifestyle change program that follows the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. DPP is designed for non-diabetic individuals who have prediabetes or are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. The program provides the education and tools necessary to help individuals reach their health goals.
All 10 University of California campuses have a UC DPP and the program is a free on-campus resource for UC faculty, staff, and their families. UCSC is proud to be recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the success of our program.
Workplace Mental Health Training for Supervisors and Managers
The Office of Risk Services has partnered with OHSU’s Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Services to provide mental health support training to UCSC supervisors and managers. Developed by a NIOSH Total Worker Health Center of Excellence, this evidence-based program teaches leaders to identify employee mental health struggles, learn appropriate ways to respond to employee warning signs, and provides practical strategies to reduce employee stress.
Click to learn more about the Workplace Mental Health Training for Supervisors and Managers and how to sign up for the next session.
Narcan Training
Lethal traces of the synthetic opioid fentanyl have been found in the US drug supply. Risk Services provides Narcan free of charge for staff and faculty. Our aim is to keep the community safe and reduce the risk of overdose death from opioid overdoses in the Santa Cruz community.
Click here to watch the training video and complete a short quiz to receive free Narcan.
Monthly Workshops
View our calendar of live workshops on a variety of topics nutrition, activity, and mental well-being.
Annual Wellness Challenges
UC Moves
UC Moves is a springtime month-long physical activity challenge. The UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff community join together in moving more and building healthy habits with daily challenges, fun tips, and healthy recipes. Get inspired to move more in whatever way works for you, because every movement counts!
Health Holidays: Snow Wonder
Snow Wonder is a month-long healthy habits challenge to welcome the holiday season. The UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff community join together to learn and practice healthy habits to end the year on a healthy high note.
Health & Well-being Initiatives
UCSC Healthy Campus Network
UCSC Healthy Campus Network (HCN) is a University of California systemwide initiative that promotes innovative reforms in all dimensions of health and well-being and strives to make UC the healthiest place to work, learn, and live. UCSC’s HCN is taking an integrated and comprehensive approach to enhance the health and wellbeing of the campus community by forming partnerships with faculty, staff, students, and the surrounding community to develop, implement, and foster a culture of wellness.
Healthy Beverage Initiative
The UC Healthy Beverage Initiative (HBI) aims to improve access to tap water and encourage its use as a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). SSBs, such as sodas, sport drinks, sweetened juice, and sweetened coffees and teas, are the main source of added sugars in the American diet. The UC HBI makes strides towards a partial or full removal of sugar-sweetened beverage sales.
With the UC HBI funding, the Faculty & Staff Health and Well-being Program installed four full water bottle fill stations and five gooseneck water fillers, and received a grant from CalRecycle to install nine additional water bottle fill stations.
Smoke & Tobacco Free Environment
On January 2, 2014, the University of California joined more than 1,159 colleges and universities nationwide by implementing a UC systemwide Smoke & Tobacco Free Environment Policy. Smoking and all uses of tobacco are prohibited by the system-wide UC policy. Both the smell of burning tobacco and the appearance of the act of smoking can trigger cravings in those who are trying to quit or have succeeded in breaking their nicotine addiction. Learn more about the UCSC Smoke & Tobacco Free policy.
UC Living Well
UC offers local and systemwide resources to help faculty, staff and retirees live well. Learn more about Wellness at UC.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
To stay up to date with upcoming events, subscribe to our Faculty & Staff Wellness Newsletter!
Workers’ Compensation
The UCSC Workers’ Compensation office coordinates the claims process with Sedgwick and works closely with employees and their departments to identify transitional work assignments.
Insurance & Claims
Office of President Risk Services is responsible for the management of systemwide risk management programs including the placement of insurance. UCSC Risk Services administers these programs, and insurance claims, for the campus.
Workplace Violence Protection Plan
UC Santa Cruz is committed to supporting campus safety and addressing any act of violence or threat of violence that occurs. UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel safe and respected.
Faculty & Staff Wellbeing
Risk Services strives to create a healthy campus community and work environment for faculty and staff through the Faculty & Staff Wellness Program by creating integrated programs and services designed to provide tools and skills for leading healthy lifestyles and preventing injury and illness.
Staff and Resources
Our team includes specialists in disability management, workers’ compensation, property & casualty, risk mitigation, faculty & staff well-being, and occupational health. In addition, we provide comprehensive resources, and ongoing support to foster a culture of safety and a healthy work environment.