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SU is amongst the first to join the Healthier Campus Initiative

Sunday, Nov. 16, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) announced during the American Public Health Association's 2014 Annual Meeting & Exposition in New Orleans, its partnership with Southern University and 19 other universities to join the Healthier Campus Initiative, an effort impacting more than 500,000 students and 126,000 faculty and staff.

 

PHA works with the private sectors and PHA honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama to make healthier choices easier, in a three-year commitment to make campuses healthier by adopting guidelines around food and nutrition, and physical activity and programming. This initiative will impact over 6,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff on Southern University's campus.

 

Southern's Acting Chancellor, Flandus McClinton said, "It is truly an honor for Southern University and A&M College to be one of only 19 universities committed to the Partnership for a Healthier America initiative. At Southern University, we focus on providing our students with a comprehensive education. We take great pride in equipping our students with the necessary tools to be successful in every aspect of their lives, including their health and wellness."

 

McClinton went on to say, "This partnership enables us to build upon the efforts that are currently in place for not only our students, but also members of the faculty, staff, and administration. I trust that this initiative will have a significant impact on making Southern University a more conscious and healthier campus environment."

 

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Dr. Brandon K. Dumas said, "This partnership is yet another demonstration of the direction Southern University and A&M College is taking to improve the excellence we instill in our students inside and outside of the classroom. The fact that Louisiana was ranked as having one of the highest obesity rates makes this relationship meaningful. By Southern University joining the Healthier Campus Initiative, we can continue to contribute positively to our state for generations to come."

During October, the Student Health Center launched the "Jags Get Fit" program, which will incorporate PHA's Healthier Campus Initiative objectives into the overall campaign.

 

Executive Director for Health and Wellness, Shirley Wade is thrilled to be a part of this endeavor "that will help provide the framework for achieving health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of the entire campus community."

 

 As a health care provider it is essential that we promote a wellness model that focuses on addressing obesity, as it is a major contributing factor in so many chronic illnesses that impact our specific population. I am looking forward to working with our campus and community partners to make this a successful initiative," said Wade.

The additional 19 schools first to join PHA in a three-year commitment to make their campuses healthier include:

 

  • Arizona State University
  • Binghamton University
  • Central New Mexico Community College
  • Clayton State University
  • Florida International University
  • George Mason University
  • George Washington University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Hampshire College
  • North Carolina State University
  • The Ohio State University
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of Miami
  • University of New Hampshire
  • University of North Dakota
  • University of Oregon
  • Washington University in St. Louis

 

PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler said, "Colleges and universities are in a unique position to help shape tomorrow's leaders, whether they are teachers, coaches, policymakers, CEOs, moms or dads. We know that going to college is a time of change for many students-we also know that means it's a time when new habits are formed. By creating healthier food and physical activity environments today, campuses and universities are encouraging healthier habits that will carry over into tomorrow."

 

Each college or university partner has committed to meet 23 guidelines-developed by PHA in collaboration with some of the nation's leading nutrition, physical activity and campus wellness experts-around nutrition, physical activity, and programming on campus. Because of the unique nature of each campus, universities and colleges choose 23 guidelines from a menu of nearly 40 recommendations, including identifying certain food and beverage options as healthier choices - impacting more than 25 million meals each year; promoting water consumption on campus; offering a bicycle share program for all students; providing certified personal trainers and registered dietitian nutritionists on campus; among others.

 

To learn more about the PHA's Healthier Campus Initiative, visit www.ahealthieramerica.org/campuses.

 

The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation's youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with - but independent from - First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation's most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most important, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased, third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress our partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.