Employee Wellbeing

WellCoug is a the WSU employee wellbeing program sponsored by Human Resource Services.

Starting Summer of 2024, many of the previously provided WSU services have been reduced/paused for the immediate future. We encourage staff and faculty to utilize the following programs offered through the state or other vendor resources for resources to support overall health and wellbeing. These programs can help in accessing resources, developing wellness skills and making healthy choices.

State and Vendor Programs:

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential program created to promote the health, safety, and wellbeing of public employees. The EAP offers no-cost confidential support and referral services to help with personal or work-related challenges.
SmartHealth is Washington State’s voluntary and confidential wellness program. This interactive web program helps you take steps to improve your health and wellbeing, while having fun and connecting with others online. You can earn SmartHealth points by participating in activities throughout the year; points earned between January 1 and September 30 are used to establish eligibility for the next year’s wellness incentive. To install SmartHealth on a mobile device, download Limeade from your app store and enter program code: SmartHealth. SmartHealth FAQs
Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) is the state’s retirement plan and administers the PERS, TRS, LEOFF and DCP retirement plans offered to state employees. DRS offers numerous podcasts and webinars not only on their retirement plans, but also on topics such as Budgeting and Debt Management, How Life Events Impact Financial/Retirement Decisions, Social Security, Medicare, and Laying Foundation for Healthy Money Habits.
TIAA is the other retirement plan that is our plan vendor for the WSURP and VIP retirement plans. In addition to providing information on the retirement plans, TIAA has numerous learning resources including Budgeting, Buying Homes, Emergency Funds, Repaying Student Loans, Financial Intelligence, Compouding Interest, and more!
Health and Fitness Discounts are available through WA Wellness, as well as through the EAP Savings Center.
Percipio – WellCoug Health and Wellbeing provides eligible employees with some overall wellbeing, mental health, burnout, work-life balance, suicide prevention, and more. Doing a general search for other wellness topics will provide much information.
Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a no-cost, online program designed to identify people living with pre-diabetes and help them make lifestyle changes to improve their health. All PEBB medical plan subscribers and adult dependents (18+) are eligible to take the DPP screener and see if they qualify.
Living Tobacco-Free helps you breathe easier, feel better, and have more energy to do what you enjoy. Tobacco cessation support is available through our medical plan providers, as well as public assistance through the CDC and Washington Department of Health.
BECU Financial Wellness resources will be coming soon!

WellCoug, part of Human Resource Services, was established to support faculty and staff across every employee type and location. Through collaboration within WSU and external partners, we have worked to provide resources and offerings to empower each individual to take ownership of their wellbeing. We anticipate we will be able to provide these services again sometime in the future.

WellCoug Champions Network: This group exists to help connect all faculty and staff with the wellbeing offerings and support available to them. See the WellCoug Champions Network Directory to find your local contact. HRS Benefits will continue to utilize this network to distribute information provided by the state and our vendors.

At WSU, wellbeing is identified as part of our core values. Wellbeing sustains us in our day-to-day work and upholds us in challenging situations, as well as sets the framework for growth and advancement.

We utilize the National Wellness Institute’s (NWI) wellbeing promotion model and framework. This includes their six dimensions of wellness encompassing Intellectual, Occupational, Spiritual, Social, Emotional, and Physical wellbeing.

Education first: Sustainable change and holistic wellbeing must be built on a foundation of education. Knowledge is a key piece of motivation and behavior change, and providing resources available through the state and our vendors allows people to access information and resources who need support the most.
Strengths-based: A wellness approach is to capitalize on present interests, opportunities, and abilities rather than focusing on deficits first. This approach builds self-efficacy, helps minimizes stigma, and gives people the confidence to be active participants in their personal wellness journey.
Whole-person approach: We understand individuals have vastly different needs, interests, abilities, and lives. The interactions between an individual and their family, organization, community, and social system have a significant impact on an individual’s experience and wellness journey. Wellness programs should lead with compassion, and in doing so make wellness inclusive, accessible, and attainable for each unique person.

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Beliefs and Values