10 Universities Leading the Way in Faculty Wellness Programs

Burnout is on the rise in higher education, and institutions are realizing that supporting faculty wellness isn’t just nice—it’s necessary. The best university wellness programs go beyond surface-level perks and provide faculty with comprehensive mental, emotional, and physical health resources.

From trauma-informed care to sabbatical support and peer mentorship models, these ten universities are paving the way for meaningful faculty well-being.

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1. University of Utah

Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Program Highlight: Resiliency Center & Mental Health First Aid

The University of Utah’s Resiliency Center offers a deeply integrated support system for faculty and staff, including trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and peer support. Faculty can also be trained in Mental Health First Aid to better support colleagues and students.

“We recognize that our ability to care for others is grounded in our ability to care for ourselves,” says the Center’s Director.

2. University of Rochester

Location: Rochester, NY
Program Highlight: Well-U Wellness Initiative

The Well-U program is a comprehensive initiative designed to support every aspect of faculty and staff wellness—from biometric screenings and mental health resources to nutrition classes and financial wellness workshops. Eligible faculty even receive incentives for participating in wellness activities.

“Our mission is to foster a culture of wellness, making health a priority in the workplace,” states Well-U’s mission.

3. University of Colorado Boulder

Location: Boulder, CO
Program Highlight: Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP)

CU Boulder’s FSAP offers short-term counseling, workshops on stress management, and trauma support. The program also provides consultations for departments to help create more wellness-aligned academic cultures.

“Our faculty are facing a level of exhaustion that requires community-wide solutions,” a wellness coordinator shared in a campus-wide update.

4. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Program Highlight: Be Well UCLA

Be Well UCLA brings together resources like therapy services, mindfulness courses, nutrition counseling, and ergonomics support for all faculty and staff. UCLA also offers specialized wellness support for historically marginalized communities.

“Wellness is not just individual; it’s environmental and institutional,” the program emphasizes.

5. University of Iowa

Location: Iowa City, IA
Program Highlight: UI Employee Assistance Program (EAP) + Faculty Success Coaching

The University of Iowa’s EAP provides confidential counseling, crisis intervention, and personalized referrals. They also offer a Faculty Success Program that includes coaching to support work-life balance, productivity, and job satisfaction.

“The Faculty Success Program gave me tools to not only avoid burnout but thrive during a chaotic semester,” one professor wrote in a program testimonial.

Download “The Faculty Burnout Guide and Wellness Toolkit” Today!
This free resource offers practical strategies to prevent burnout, improve well-being, and foster a culture of sustainable success on campus.

6. UC Santa Cruz

Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Program Highlight: Faculty Well-being Program & Healthy Campus Network

UC Santa Cruz is a founding campus in the University of California’s Healthy Campus Network, and its faculty wellness resources include coaching, mental health workshops, and support groups for BIPOC faculty.

“The Faculty Well-being Program is about making people feel seen and supported in meaningful ways,” says a campus mental health lead.

7. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

Location: Urbana-Champaign, IL
Program Highlight: Illinois Human Resources Wellness

UIUC’s Wellness Program for faculty includes a wide array of services, from wellness challenges and fitness classes to psychological services and stress-relief coaching. The school has also piloted peer support initiatives to reduce professional isolation.

“Well-being is integrated into the culture here—it’s not an afterthought,” a department chair shared during a panel.

8. Stanford University

Location: Stanford, CA
Program Highlight: Faculty Wellness & Resilience Initiatives

Stanford’s Wellness Resources for Faculty include one-on-one mental health consultations, burnout prevention resources, group coaching, and wellness retreats. They’ve also developed faculty-specific toolkits for navigating high-stress times, like grant deadlines or tenure reviews.

“Burnout is a systemic problem, and we’re tackling it with institutional tools,” states the Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.

9. Boston University

Location: Boston, MA
Program Highlight: BU Employee Wellness and Mental Health Initiatives

Boston University offers robust wellness support through their HR portal, including virtual meditation rooms, counseling services, and supervisor training in mental health awareness. The university regularly surveys staff to identify emerging wellness needs.

“Leadership buy-in has been key. Wellness isn’t just HR’s job—it’s everyone’s,” shared a recent BU wellness task force member.

10. University of Michigan

Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Program Highlight: MHealthy Faculty and Staff Well-being Program

MHealthy is one of the most robust and evidence-backed wellness programs in higher ed. It includes resiliency courses, emotional wellness coaching, smoking cessation support, financial counseling, and ergonomic consultations. Faculty can also attend mindfulness retreats through a partnership with Michigan Medicine.

“We designed MHealthy to meet the full spectrum of human needs,” said the program director. “Our faculty carry immense responsibility, and our goal is to carry some of that weight with them.”

What Sets These Programs Apart?

Their multi-dimensional approach makes these universities’ wellness initiatives truly stand out. Rather than relying on superficial benefits, they:

Integrate wellness into the institutional culture
Offer tailored mental health support for faculty
Include DEI-informed services for marginalized groups
Provide leadership training around mental health
Create peer networks and mentorship pathways

These are not one-size-fits-all programs. They’re dynamic, responsive, and designed with faculty voices in mind.

The Takeaway: Prioritize, Don’t Just Promote

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