March 28, 2024

UMW Recognized by Exercise is Medicine® for Efforts to Create Culture of Wellness on Campus

UMW’s Recreation and Wellness programming on campus has helped earn silver level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program. “We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Robyn Stuhr, vice president of Exercise is Medicine. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.”

The President’s Council on Wellness has been working on this initiative and is excited about the progress and future opportunities. On-campus wellness referrals and exercise prescriptions have been a great new supplement to the ongoing recreation and wellness programming.

Of the 139 campuses recognized this year, 55 received gold, 56 silver and 28 bronze. All gold, silver and bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on May 29 as part of the 2019 Exercise is Medicine World Congress, held in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting. EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health and encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community. EIM-OC launched its recognition program in 2014 to honor campuses for their efforts to create a culture of wellness.

Schools earn gold, silver or bronze status based on their activities. Gold level campuses have created a referral system where campus health care providers assess student physical activity and refer students as necessary to a certified fitness professional as part of medical treatment. Silver campuses engage students, faculty and staff in education initiatives and make movement part of the daily campus culture while bronze level campuses promote and generate awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.

View a complete list of recognized schools and learn more about the EIM-OC program at https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/support_page.php/eim-on-campus/

About Exercise Is Medicine:

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) in 2007 with the American Medical Association. ACSM continues to manage the global health initiative, which seeks to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care. Visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org for additional information.

About the American College of Sports Medicine:

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. More details at www.acsm.org.

UMW Seeking Wellness Champions

This past year, the President’s Council on Wellness worked to identify ways to improve student and employee well-being.  We know well-being is closely linked to happiness and job satisfaction. Specifically, employees with high levels of physical and emotional well-being are shown to be more productive and positive while experiencing lower stress levels and fewer missed days of work.

Beginning Fall 2018, The President’s Council on Wellness will launch the UMW Wellness Champion program. Currently, we are looking for one employee per area to serve as a Wellness Champion.

This person’s role will be:

  • Communication of wellness related information within their areas
  • Providing feedback to President’s Council on Wellness

Commitments:

  • 2 Wellness Champion meetings per semester
  • Two representatives from this group will attend the monthly council meeting

Top Wellness Champion candidates are:

  • Passionate – Employees who aspire to be champions and have enthusiasm for enhancing the culture of health at their workplace.
  • Social skills – Employees who naturally make connections with and show compassion for their co-workers. Champions should be easy to approach, have strong communication and leadership skills, and be looked up to by their co-workers.
  • Role model qualities – Employees who express a personal interest in healthy lifestyles, regardless of their current health status, can be excellent advocates for healthy behavior change.

Are you interested or know someone who would be great?

Please fill out this quick 3 question form:  https://goo.gl/forms/esU6mgv6CS156vSh2

UMW To Host Its Largest Yoga Class on March 26

To celebrate reaching our Giving Day goal of 50 donors, UMW will be hosting it’s largest yoga class ever!

Join Vice President Landphair, Dean Melissa Jones and Dean Dave Fleming for Yoga in the UC Ballroom @ 4 p.m. on March 26th.

There will be local yoga studios, raffle prizes, and incentives for the first 50 people!

Check out our challenge video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3qBiXTclFY&feature=youtu.be

Mary Wash Moves – Finish Strong!

We have enjoyed the camaraderie, competition seen during this wellness challenge!

This challenge ends on Friday at noon, so be sure you get your steps entered!! (ALL steps, even if they happened in the past!)

**Remember, the winning team receives a free personal training consultation.

Don’t forget to track your steps using this document: http://bit.ly/2rIUff7

Summer Kickball League for Faculty and Staff

Games will begin the week of May 22. All games will be held from noon until 12:45 p.m. on Ball Circle. Each team will play a minimum of one game per week for four weeks and have a minimum of eight players. Sign up as an individual, or note teammate requests on the registration form. The $10 individual registration fee can be paid online or in person at the Fitness Center.
Register here before May 8 and let’s have a fun Summer Kickball League!