Mary Baldwin University is holding several wellness events during its inaugural Healthy Campus Week from Sept. 23-29, in conjunction with a three-year commitment to the Healthier Campus Initiative (HCI), a pioneering program designed by the nonprofit organization Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA).
In adopting the HCI, Mary Baldwin joins a distinguished class of more than 70 colleges and universities in creating a culture of healthier living, which is linked to improved academic performance. Partners in the HCI pledge a commitment to enhance campus environments by following rigorous standards developed by leading experts under three primary categories: food and nutrition, physical activity, and wellness programming. Twenty-three of the initiative’s 41 guidelines must be met within three years, with each guideline verified by an independent third party. Results will be released publicly in Partnership for a Healthier America’s annual progress reports.
“We couldn’t be more proud to have Mary Baldwin University as a PHA partner,” said Blythe Thomas, Partnership for a Healthy America’s chief marketing officer. “Mary Baldwin’s leadership and commitment is an important step forward towards realizing PHA’s goal that all young people grow up free from obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions associated with excess weight.”
Due to practices long enabled by MBU staff, the university is well on its way to fulfilling its guidelines. Campus improvements such as a comprehensive wellness program; a minimum of one wellness meal at each breakfast, lunch, and dinner; labeled nutrition information; and local food purchasing were already in place well before the partnership. These early advancements will help ensure that Mary Baldwin satisfies a full quarter of its HCI commitments in only three months.
Other initiatives pledged by the university include:
- 20 outdoor recreation clinics or trips per academic year
- 40 intramural or informal recreation opportunities per academic year
- A campus bicycle sharing program
- A field day for spring 2020 that will give students a break from classes to enjoy time outdoors
“I believe this partnership with HCI is a great opportunity for Mary Baldwin to take credit for what we already do well,” said Tracy Hiner, Mary Baldwin’s director of dining services. “The hard work and collaboration of many have created a focus on wellness and living a healthy lifestyle. It’s also a chance to build upon a foundation and make our programs better going forward. Living and going to school in the Shenandoah Valley is a unique opportunity that we should all take advantage of.”
In order to bring campus-wide awareness to the HCI and its benefits, Mary Baldwin will hold several wellness events this week. Students, faculty, and staff will be invited to take part in a group physical activity challenge by joining cadets from the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) for a PT session at SMA Worth Field. Other events throughout the week will include various learning opportunities with Mary VanNortwick, Mary Baldwin’s campus dietician, as well as an opportunity for students to meet local growers.
Mary Baldwin was recognized as being part of the initiative on the national stage during PHA’s Accelerating a Healthier Future Summit in Chicago last April.
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