Not many events changed so many lives as fundamentally as the COVID-19 pandemic did. Though most of us are in a very different place than we were on March 1, 2020, the transition back to campus offers the opportunity to heal and to rebuild a new kind of campus community.

That’s where Rebel Reset comes in. 

“We need to fundamentally adjust our thought processes,” said Ericka Smith, vice president of human resources and chief people officer. “Rebel Reset offers employees a chance to recognize the anxiety, pain, and grief that came with the pandemic and begin to recover and ‘reset’ in a healthy way.”

Rebel Reset includes wellness programming available to all faculty and staff between July and December 2021. The offerings will address physical, emotional, and financial well-being. 

Loosen up and get moving

Trauma and anxiety can accumulate in our physical bodies, leading to pain and stagnation. Chair massages with licensed therapists will be offered in different locations across campus to release that tension. Yoga classes will help faculty and staff get in touch with our bodies and emotions through stretching and affirmations. These specialized offerings are in addition to basketball, cardio kickboxing, nutrition webinars, and yoga classes available free of charge in partnership with the Division of Educational Outreach and department of kinesiology and nutritional sciences.

What we put into our bodies is just as important as how we move them. During the pandemic, nearly one-third of Americans reported eating more, exercising less, and gaining weight. That’s why the university is offering virtual cooking classes in which participants learn how to prepare healthy meals from the comfort of their own kitchens. The classes are offered through a partnership between Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine and the health meets food culinary medicine curriculum. 

Just breathe

Dr. Anne Weisman, director of wellness & integrative medicine at the medical school, will lead six mind-body medicine workshops that teach techniques designed to naturally calm the central nervous system through meditation, soft breathing, and bodywork. 

“These workshops are an opportunity to reset our community’s health and a reminder that we can pause, relax, and begin again,” Weisman said.

Easing the burden of childcare

Beginning in August, full-time employees will be able to apply to receive one-time grants for childcare and groceries. The grants include up to $750 for childcare and up to $250 in gift cards to Vons, Smiths, or Albertsons. More information about how to apply will be available soon. 

View all the Rebel Reset offerings. More will be added throughout the rest of the calendar year. Suggestions on additional programs are being accepted at rebelreset@unlv.edu.

In addition to Rebel Reset programming, UNLV offers a number of other resources and events to help employees maintain a healthy work/life balance. Visit the Faculty/Staff Wellness site for a complete list.  

“When people are anxious, they think they’re in it alone,” Smith said. “Rebel Reset is intended to remind employees that they are not alone, that we have listened to them, and that the only way we can move forward is together.”