Aggies Get Healthy Check-up

The Utah Department of Health recently lauded Utah State University for protecting, promoting and improving the health and well-being of students through science-based environmental and behavioral change strategies.

“As the 2006 Winter Games are underway in Italy, the UDOH is announcing the winners of the most recent ‘A Healthier You’ Legacy Awards,” read a release issued by the department.

 

Utah State received a bronze level Healthy Campus Award last fall. UDOH said the school displays nutritional information at campus eateries, strictly enforces laws prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of public buildings and requires all sidewalks to be cleared of snow and vegetation.

 

USU was the only higher ed campus in the state to receive an award in 2005.

 

Funded by the Utah Department of Health, Utah Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and community partners, the ‘A Healthier You’ program was initiated in conjunction with the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The program recognizes efforts by college campuses, communities, public schools and the private sector in increasing opportunities for health-enhancing activities.

 

“To our knowledge, we’re the only state with a program like this,” said Connie Kitchens, program coordinator for A Healthier You.

 

USU is forging ahead with efforts to advance to a silver level award in 2006, said Jamie McKinlay, program coordinator at USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center. To that end, the center kicked off a 13-week, campus-wide Physical Activity Challenge that concludes with an awards ceremony April 20. More than 300 students, faculty and staff in six-member teams are trying to rack up the most exercise hours and consume five fruit and vegetable servings each day.

 

Kitchens said other campuses around the state are working on Healthy Campus awards, but she hasn’t heard of any others initiating a physical activity challenge. “I think (USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center) is very innovative in what they chose to do and had a fabulous result in so many teams signing up,” she said.

 

Kitchens said the healthy campus awards program allows campus wellness centers to choose from a menu of criteria and encourages them to develop their own ways of implementing initiatives and measuring outcomes. To earn a silver level award, USU must maintain bronze status in initiatives already established and complete additional goals in at least four of the six health focus areas: general campus, healthy behaviors, nutrition, safety, preventive services and physical activity.