Health Information and
Wellness
Health Information and Wellness
Task Force
Final Report
December 15, 2006
Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading.
I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning
-Thomas Jefferson
Health Information and
Wellness
Task Force Members:
Wendy Dodd (Co-Chair) Mike Slocum
Warren Hills (Co-Chair) Dave Stevens
Britta Dahlberg Steve Stratton
Susan Davis Paul Sullivan
Kim Hancock Allen Sutherby
Tom Liszewski Shelly VandePanne
Denise Mitten Joe Viviano
Bill Papo Kevin Walsh
Marcy Parry Brenda Walton
Zack Potter Glen Zobel
Health Information and
Wellness
1. How do we help employees be aware of the benefits
available to them?
2. How may we best use services available to the
University community both on-campus and in the
community?
3. What would be considered University standards for
health and wellness?
4. How do we create a campus culture of wellness?
5. How do we raise campus awareness of health issues?
Health Information and
Wellness
Best Practices – Other Universities/Colleges
Cornell
University of Kentucky
University of Miami
University of Pittsburg
Pepperdine University
http://www.pepperdine.edu/wellness/
Health Information and
Wellness
Best Practices – Michigan Universities/Colleges
Grand Valley State University
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Central Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Oakland University
http://www2.oakland.edu/wellness/
Health Information and
Wellness
Current On-Campus Resources
•Student Recreation Center, University Recreation – Students are members,
discounted employee memberships, public memberships, equipment rental,
health/fitness classes, ropes course, aquatics program, outdoor trips, weight
and fitness center.
•Racquet and Fitness Center – Student memberships, discounted employee
memberships, public memberships, health/fitness classes, tennis,
racquetball, and walleyball courts, equipment rental, and a pro shop.
•Wink Ice Arena – Ice rental, skate repair and sharpening, figure skating and
hockey events and organizations.
Health Information and
Wellness
Current On-Campus Resources (cont.)
•Katke Golf Course – Discounted employee and student
memberships, public memberships for golfing with pro shop.
•College of Allied Health – Dental Hygiene Clinic.
•College of Optometry – Optometry Clinic.
•FSU Dining Services – On-line health information, Registered
Dietician on staff.
•Birkam Health Center – Wellness-health counseling,
immunizations, mental health counseling, employee workers‟
compensation services.
•Minority Student Affairs – Virtual Women‟s Center.
Health Information and
Wellness
Current On-Campus Resources (cont.)
•FSU Human Resources – Annual Benefits Fair, HR Benefits
website, benefit provider counseling and information sessions,
employee assistance program, ergonomic evaluations, safety
training.
•Academic Classes in Health, Wellness, Physical Education and
Nutrition.
•On-campus committees include Social Norming, Academic
Senate on Health Information and Substance Abuse Prevention
and several Registered Student Organizations.
•Residence Life – Resident Advisors are required to provide
Health & Wellness programs as part of their programming
requirements each semester
•Residence Life – Health, Wellness, & Substance Free Housing –
Miller Hall.
Health Information and
Wellness
On-Campus Websites
Counseling Center FSU Human Resources
FSUS Class Website Dental Hygiene Clinic
Virtual Women‟s Center Optometry Clinic
Birkam Health Center FSU Dining Services
Univ. Recreation, Racquet/Tennis, Katke
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Wellness
Off-Campus Resources
•Big Rapids Department of Recreation – Health/wellness
classes and groups, volleyball leagues, community pool.
•Mecosta County Medical Center – Speciality clinics and
education, out-patient physical therapy, occupational
therapy, nutrition counseling.
•PT Plus – Exercise equipment, health/fitness counseling,
physical therapy, corporate (FSU) discount memberships.
•TNT Gym and Tanning - Exercise equipment,
health/fitness counseling.
•Holiday Inn – Health center memberships, pool.
Health Information and
Wellness
Health/Wellness Websites of Interest
http://www.SPARKPEOPLE.com – Health information,
fitness/dietary planning.
http://www.acha.org/info_resources/hc2010.cfm - American
College Health Association (ACHA) site for reporting
national college health objectives and access to “Healthy
Campus 2010” report.
http://www.acefitness.org/ - American Council on Exercise
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Wellness
For Benefits-Eligible FSU Employees
http://www.mibcn.com - Michigan BCBS Community Blue Network
http://www.messa.org – MESSA
http://www.priority-health.com – Priority Health HMO
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Wellness
Consensus Recommendations
1. An easily identifiable link on the FSU home page to a
separate Health and Wellness site, with one click presence.
2. A separate Health and Wellness web site that is a “one-
stop shopping” guide to all University (and community)
health related services and facilities.
3. A link on the University Events Calendar to Health and
Wellness events.
4. A hard copy, one page (front and back), newsletter
published bi-monthly discussing employee health coverage
and wellness issues affecting students and staff.
Health Information and
Wellness
Consensus Recommendations (cont.)
5. Provide recognition and awareness of health related
services and facilities in the new employee orientation, i.e.
brochures.
6. Heighten promotion of health and wellness activities at
the annual health fair.
7. Assess the current state and needs of employee wellness.
8. Hire a Health and Wellness Coordinator on campus.
9. Establish funding for Wellness incentives and
programming on campus.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 1 Recommendations: “How do we help
employees be aware of the benefits available to them?"
* Evaluation and publication of the effects of the incentive
activities as they relate to employee health insurance
premiums, absenteeism, student visits to the Birkham Health
Center and any other measurable factors.
* Regular notification to each employee of the cost of
his/her wage and benefits package. Individual benefit costs
and aggregate totals to be delineated.
* Continued use of University Wide Notices.
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Wellness
Charge 2 Recommendations: “How may we best use
services available to the University community both on-
campus and in the community?”
* Define organization for on-going health/wellness
responsibility and support – includes establishing who is
responsible (single or multiple persons), reporting structure,
and budgeting.
* Develop methods to evaluate on-going success of
health/wellness project(s).
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 3 Recommendations: “What would be considered
University standards for health and wellness?”
Proposed Definition of Wellness:
“Wellness is a quality of optimal health and well-being that includes
the whole person and a way of life that reduces the need for remedies
or interventions. Wellness emphasizes personal responsibility for
making lifestyle and self-care decisions that improve quality and
length of life and prevent disease. Wellness includes the following
six dimensions: physical, emotional, intellectual, environmental,
social, and spiritual health.”
Proposed Health/Wellness Standards:
•The University shall promote a wellness and optimal health lifestyle that
recognizes and enhances the personal, professional, and academic well-being of
students, faculty, and staff.
•The University will support ideas and practices which promote optimal health of
the campus community and investigate practices that discourage wellness on
campus.
•Campus health and wellness promotion must include the idea that while the
University can positively influence and promote well-being, individuals must take
responsibility for improving their own health and wellness.
•The University will address wellness by creating and developing goals and
objectives that promote optimal health among university members along all “six
dimensions of wellness.”
•Physical health standards address body mass index (BMI), body
composition, nutrition, tobacco cessation, substance abuse, dental
health, physical activity, and recreation.
•Emotional health standards address stress and depression, good
mental health in university activities, classrooms and residence halls
settings, sexual assault prevention, and good communication practice
in all university settings.
•The intellectual dimension of wellness, directly related to the
mission of the University, includes the need to continually research,
recognize, and implement optimal learning and teaching methods in
and outside the classroom to develop the whole (person) student.
•Environmental health standards address injury prevention, work
and classroom safety, hazardous materials, and communicable
disease.
•The social dimension of wellness will be addressed in terms of
improving and enhancing good communication and interpersonal
relationships between and among individuals and groups on
campus.
•The spiritual dimension of wellness will address the meaning or
value of life, as well as understanding and expressing ones
purpose in life. It addresses values and ethics as well as nurturing
your mind-body.
Proposed Health/Wellness Goals:
NUTRITION
BMI (body mass index) for the average person (non-athlete/body
builder) should be 18-25.
Daily intake of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables is highly desirable.
Eat foods in their natural state, when possible, avoiding highly refined,
“engineered” foods.
Eat more whole-grain foods, instead of white rice, white flour, white
noodles, etc.
Drink clean water, free of harmful chemicals.
• Fat intake should not exceed 30%of total daily calories,
with more unrefined, plant-based fats calories, with
•Fat intake should not exceed 30%of total daily(nuts, seeds, more
avocado, olive oil ) preferred over animal fats and preferred
unrefined, plant-based fats (nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil ) highly
refined oils. Saturated fat oils. Saturated fat intake Trans-
over animal fats and highly refined intake should be limited. should be
fats and partially hydrogenated fats should be avoided as
limited. Trans-fats and partially hydrogenated fats should be avoided as
much as possible.
much as possible.
• Offer more vegetarian entrees in cafeterias, with use of
beans, nuts and seeds in cafeterias, with instead of meat
•Offer more vegetarian entrees as protein sources, use of beans, nuts and
and dairy foods.
seeds as protein sources, instead of meat and dairy foods.
• Avoid high-fructose corn syrup, foods laden with
preservatives and chemical additives, excessive salt or
•Avoid high-fructose corn syrup, foods laden with preservatives and
caffeine, and genetically modified foods.
chemical additives, excessive salt or caffeine, and genetically modified
foods.
TOBACCO CESSATION
• It is desirable for everyone to stop using tobacco.
• Discourage smoking in all public areas of campus.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• For persons of legal age alcohol intake should not exceed 2 drinks/day (one
drink = one 12 oz. beer or wine cooler, one 5 oz. glass of wine, or
1.5 oz. of 80 proof distilled spirits).
• The use of illegal substances, or use of another person‟s legal scheduled
(regulated) drugs is prohibited on campus.
DENTAL HEALTH
• Good daily dental hygiene (brushing, flossing, decreasing sweets) is advised.
• Regular dental check-ups are advised.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY and HEALTH
•Incorporate exercise into daily routine, such as taking the stairs
instead of the elevator, parking the car farther away, walking or biking
instead of driving, taking evening walks after dinner, getting together
to exercise instead of eat.
•Provide incentives for yearly screenings.
•Cardiovascular exercise is recommended 4-5 days/week, 30-minute
sessions.
•Strength-building exercises are recommended 2-3 days/week, 20-30-
minute sessions.
•Stretching exercises are recommended 4-5 days/week, 10-15-minute
sessions.
INJURY PREVENTION AND SAFETY
Everyone should have a safety mindset, understanding that actions we take can
affect the safety of others.
Use of safety equipment, when appropriate, is imperative.
Report potential hazards to supervisory personnel.
Personnel working in manual labor jobs should be taught how to lift properly.
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Improve mental health, increase the proportion of students obtaining mental
health services and ensure access to appropriate quality mental health services.
Maintain a workplace free of harassment.
Promote a home free of abuse.
SPIRITUAL
Opportunity for all people to express their beliefs in a safe environment without
academic or workplace reprisal.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 4 Recommendations: “How do we create a campus culture
of wellness?”
•Expand upon healthy dining alternatives in dining centers.
•Administrative support, role modeling and leadership are required.
•Create a walking culture on campus.
•Encourage walking meetings
•Less parking on the interior of campus.
•Encourage and set aside 60 minutes a week for employee wellness
activities.
•Charge a “Twinkie tax” on unhealthy choices to subsidize healthier
choices. For example, catering could charge more for a cookie platter
and less for the fruit platter.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 4 Recommendations: “How do we create a campus culture
of wellness?”
•Enhance the current Health and Wellness objective in FSUS classes to
include a set curriculum based on a program at Kansas State
University.
•Move ash trays the correct distance from doorways.
•Provide vending machines containing “healthy” foods and drinks.
•Allow bikes on campus in the winter.
•Emphasize current standard of 25 feet away from all campus
buildings, working with Physical Plant for proper placement and
regular cleaning of ashtrays.
•Order healthy foods for meetings and functions on campus.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 5 Recommendations: “How do we raise campus
awareness of health issues?”
* Promote campus awareness of health and wellness issues through
advertising and marketing methods that utilize on campus
professionals and students.
- Incorporate educational health and wellness chalking into
community service work.
- Place clear informational placemat holders in stalls and above
urinals in bathroom
- Place table tents in dining centers, coffee shop, lounges and food
places.
-Secure a monthly page in the Torch to dedicate to health issues.
- Create a position of „Health Editor‟ to coordinate issues.
- Send weekly e-mails to the campus community encouraging
exercising and healthy eating.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 5 Recommendations: “How do we raise campus
awareness of health issues?” (cont.)
* Offer competitive on campus fitness challenges, i.e
thermometers, maps, and graphs.
* Add weekly health polls on a centralized health web page.
Health Information and
Wellness
Charge 5 Recommendations: “How do we raise campus
awareness of health issues?” (cont.)
* Present Health and Wellness information during student and
employee orientations.
- Include brochures in information sent to students
- Set up a table at freshman orientation to provide parents
and students with health and wellness information.
- Give employees information about campus and community
resources available to them.
*Inform and utilize current on campus committees to share above
initiatives.
- Faculty Senate
- Social Norming
- Student Government
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* Adopt a General Education requirement of one credit hour
in either physical education or health awareness for
baccalaureate graduation, effective for the entering class of
Fall 2008.
* Create incentives to encourage students to take existing
health, physical education & wellness courses.
* Create a master plan by month dedicated to a single health
and wellness topic.
* Continue hosting an annual health & wellness week on
campus.
Health Information and
Wellness
Conclusion
“As a University, we have many on campus resources,
facilities, students and staff to assist in a collaborative effort
to bring awareness to health and wellness issues. The Task
Force found that there are several departments currently
offering wellness programming and activities on campus.
Programs and activities range from Wellness Wednesday‟s,
an employee Poker Walk, and our current speaker series
theme „A Wealth of Knowledge about Health in College.‟
These events have seen limited response from employees.
Campus supervisors need to be encouraged to promote and
accommodate participation in these events.
Health Information and
Wellness
Conclusion Continued
A health assessment has recently been conducted on our
students. A similar assessment should be done on our FSU
employees. A common “best practice” among all other
campus programs mentioned is an on campus contact person
to coordinate group efforts and provide programming and
personal training. Another “best practice” would be to have
funding available for groups wishing to promote health and
wellness initiatives and campaigns. A well designed
program with strong organizational leadership could be a
powerful tool to encourage, educate, and support healthy,
productive employees and students.”
“Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it.”
-Anonymous