ADA, Okla. – East Central University recently celebrated the grand opening of a new self-care room in the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center, providing students with a dedicated space for rest, reflection and wellness.
The room is dedicated to the memory of Margot Trémolière, an international student who attended ECU through the Global Education exchange program with the University of Limoges in France.
The initiative began as a collaboration between Dr. Destany Schafer-Morgan of ECU’s Department of Professional Programs in Human Services and Dr. Robin Roberson of the Office of Institutional Research.
“In 2022, the National Association of Social Workers updated its code of ethics to emphasize the importance of self-care,” Schafer-Morgan said. “This change emphasized that social workers must take measures to care for themselves both professionally and personally. This change reflects a growing acknowledgment of the high rates of burnout and occupational stress faced by social workers, highlighting self-care as essential for maintaining ethical practice and overall well-being. This change in our ethical code is what planted the seed for me to begin a self-care initiative on ECU's campus.”
Despite early challenges, the effort gained momentum with support from Dr. James Burke in the Department of PPHS and Jo Anna Tingle-Owens, director of ECU’s I-DREAM Grant. Funding from the grant program, along with additional donors, made the project possible.
Located in Room 308 of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center, the space offers students a calming and accessible environment to recharge throughout the academic day.
Burke proposed dedicating the room to Trémolière.
The self-care room reflects ECU’s ongoing commitment to student wellness and holistic support both inside and outside the classroom.
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