Employee Wellness

Pacific University wants to help its employees feel fulfilled, healthy and well in all that they do – at work, at home, and in their communities and beyond. We offer several resources to support overall wellness.

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program through Canopy provides free and confidential assistance, including wellness support, counseling, legal and financial consultations, and concierge services for community resources. Canopy also partners with the Advantage Home Plus home ownership program.

It is always important for employees to care for their wellness, but now, more than ever, it is critical for employees to be attentive to their overall health - mental, physical, financial, and social. Utilizing the tools available through the Employee Assistance Program can assist in stress reduction, building confidence in short- and long-term goals, and the support of healthy coping mechanisms.

For immediate assistance, EAP also has crisis counseling available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get more details and review a summary of benefits on our dedicated Employee Assistance Program webpage.

Did you know that the Employee Assistance Program has live, ongoing webinars? For session details, visit the Canopy Webinar webpage.

Affinity Groups

Affinity Groups are a vital part of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion programming that provides direct community support for students, faculty and staff. Affinity Groups are spaces made for folks who share an identity to convene together, build community, offer support, and explore identity. The OEDI knows it is important to center our identities in order to build community and gain support from peers. Anyone interested in learning more about joining our affinity groups can visit the Affinity Groups webpage or contact OEDI at oedi@contact.pacificu.edu.

Intramurals Fitness and Recreation Classes

Students, faculty, and staff can more easily participate in in-person fitness and recreation classes on the Forest Grove campus during the 2023-2024 academic year. Intramurals is utilizing the IMLeagues system for class schedule showcasing and sign ups. If you are interested in learning more about these offerings and registering for a class, please use your Pacific University email to sign up for an account at imleagues.com/pacificu/registration. Intramurals has also set up a Pacific University Recreation Group on Strava. You can access the group at https://www.strava.com/clubs/pacific-university-recreation-753270. Questions about these offerings? Contact Mallory at mhiefield@pacificu.edu.

Outdoor Pursuits

The Pacific Northwest conjures up images of peaks rising above green forests, hidden coves and bays dotting the coast, and rivers that flow year round from the Cascade and Coastal Ranges. Pacific University is located right in the middle of it all.

Whether you seek to explore our region's amazing outdoor landscapes by signing up for a coordinated day trip or would like to rent equipment for a weekend adventure on your own, Pacific University's Outdoor Pursuits can help! Equipment rentals are available to students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Adventure trips are open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and also non-affiliated parties.

Also, with an AFree Bike Association membership, anyone in the university community can gain access to a bike for a leisurely lunchtime ride through town or a quick two-wheeled cruise across campus. With the free membership, a bike can be picked up at the Outdoor Pursuits office in the Milky Way between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visit their team there to learn more!

Fitness & Fun

Pacific University employees have free use of the Stoller Center, Holce Tennis Courts and the Lincoln Park Athletic Complex with a Pacific ID. 

Stoller Center facilities include the fitness center, three-court gym, and the turf-floored fieldhouse. Check the facility website for current hours.

The Holce Tennis Courts may be closed certain hours for tennis team practices and competitions. Normal hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but check the gates for special hours.

The track and field at Hanson Stadium is open for public use from 6 a.m. to sunset, when not scheduled for competitions or special events. Schedules are posted at the west gate of the stadium. Chuck Bafaro Stadium (baseball) and Sherman/Larkins Stadium (softball) are limited access and must be reserved for use.

Faculty and staff also are welcome to take part in free fitness classes and intramural competitions, such as yoga and Zumba classes or intramural basketball leagues. Find current schedules and opportunities on the Intramurals webpage.

For Hillsboro Campus Faculty and Staff employees, the Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center in Hillsboro offers a 6 month membership for a discounted rate of $100. Please present your Boxer ID at the facility to obtain the discount.

Each spring, students in the exercise science program at Pacific also offer Boxer Boot Camp, a one-on-one personal training service open to faculty and staff. Watch for opportunities to sign up each February. 

Smoke-Free Workplace & Tobacco Cessation

Smoking of any kind is prohibited on all university-owned or controlled grounds, including the Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene and Woodburn campuses, offices in Portland and Honolulu, and all clinic sites.

Use of all types of tobacco products, including smokeless chew, is also prohibited at the Hillsboro, Eugene and Woodburn campuses and at locations in Portland.

We support our employees' choice to live healthier lives through tobacco cessation with a number of programs:

Employees who enroll in Kaiser Permanente healthcare have access to Freedom from Tobacco classes, phone counseling, and an online program. Coverage for medication therapy may also be available.

Employees with Regence healthcare also are covered for smoking cessation programs, online resources and medication therapy as needed. 

The Employee Assistance Program through Canopy offers unlimited access to wellness coaches for help in making lifestyle changes, including smoking cessation. 

Canopy also has interactive online resources, such as self-assessments and informative videos, to help you kick the habit.