OxWell Festival Unites Campus Around Eight Dimensions of Well-Being
Launched to raise awareness about the various resources available for students regarding student wellness, OxWell Festival has grown into a signature event that unites the Oxford community around well-being.
After the first full month of the semester, Oxwell Festival returned to the Oxford Quad on September 26, focused on practical wellness, excitement, and entertainment for students, faculty, and staff. Organized by Oxford Campus Life and the OxWell Implementation Collective, the event emphasized the Eight Elements of Well-Being as its guiding theme.
"Wellness isn’t something that happens in a single event like this festival; wellness is about daily choices. These habits add up, shaping the way that we view our bodies, relationships, and even our spirit.”
“This year, several student organizations set up tables highlighting the eight elements of well-being, shaping both the content and experience of the festival,” explains Amanda Yu-Nguyen, Director of the Center for Healthful Living. The Office of Critical Preparedness and Response demonstrated hands-on CPR techniques, improving participants' lifesaving abilities. OxHeard, a student mental health group on campus, created stress balls at their table, offering an easy and practical way to manage stress, while making emotional wellness more accessible. Through various collaborations among university departments, local partners, and student groups, festival organizers guided attendees on how each of the eight elements could relate to their daily lives.
For many students, OxWell wasn't just a break from classes; it was an opportunity to connect with the Oxford community and recognize the support available. “OxWell is really great for students to be able to get out there and see that administration cares, and that we have the resources here at Oxford to bring awareness to certain things,” says Delaney Arnold 26Ox. “Whether that be academic resources, CHL resources, extracurricular activities, and more.”
Others emphasized how the festival helped bridge the gap between students and the support systems designed for them. “A lot of these services that are here to support us, not many people know about them,” Dominic Mantone 26Ox, shared. “This festival allows students like me the opportunity to see everything and know that there are people on campus who are here to support us.”
Behind the upbeat music, engaging activities, and sense of community lies a strong purpose in uniting Oxford by prioritizing well-being through shared experiences. OxWell Festival’s impact extends beyond the number of individuals who attended. The ability to foster genuine connections and promote personal reflection on wellness was evident through all the activities and conversations.
“Wellbeing is not the responsibility of a single office or department—it’s a collective effort,”