Russell Sage College Joins International Health Promoting Universities and Colleges Network

On Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, Russell Sage College President Christopher Ames will sign The Okanagan Charter, formalizing Sage’s membership in the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network. The signing will take place at 3 p.m. in Sage Park on the college’s Troy campus.

The U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network is an affiliation guided by the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges. The charter calls on post-secondary schools to “embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.”

The charter’s name reflects its origins on the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus in the territory of the Okanagan Nation. Colleges around the world have signed the Okanagan Charter. Sage is the 12th member of the larger U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network to officially adopt the charter.

“The values of the Okanagan Charter align with Russell Sage College’s identity as a leader in health sciences education, and with the values of our Thrive initiative, which promotes wellness and well-being for students, employees and our Albany and Troy communities,” said President Ames. “Our adoption of the charter reflects our commitment to support individuals’ physical and mental health and to support the larger conditions necessary for health, including an equitable society and a healthy planet.”