Creating Healthier Places

The George Washington University

2017 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2014

Length of Commitment: 3 years

Select a Progress Report:

View Partner

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.

Verified Results

Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer on the menu a minimum of one (1) wellness meal at each breakfast, lunch and dinner meal (if served).
Progress To Date

George Washington University offers at least one wellness meal at every breakfast, lunch and dinner served at its two campus dining venues. Wellness meals meet all PHA food and nutrition criteria and are promoted daily with signage and highlighters on individual meal components.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer a minimum five (5) types of fruits, five (5) types of vegetables and two (2) 100% whole grain products at both lunch and dinner (if served).
Progress To Date

George Washington University offers well more than the required five types of fruits, five types of vegetables and two 100% whole grain products at both lunch and dinner.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer and identify as healthier at point of presentation at least three (3) desserts at both lunch and dinner that have no more than 150 calories as served.
Progress To Date

George Washington University offers at least three desserts at both lunch and dinner that have no more than 150 calories as served. Healthier desserts are labeled at the point of presentation with the Radish healthy icon and a flyer promoting the healthier options available.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Implement a comprehensive, strategic product placement/merchandizing program/policy within dining venues to encourage healthier food consumption which will include a minimum of five (5) strategies, one (1) of which is: Display only healthier food and beverage options within five (5) feet of all cash register stations (if anything at all).
Progress To Date

George Washington University’s Pelham Commons dining hall has implemented at least five strategies to encourage students to choose healthier options. Strategies include requiring healthier food products within five feet of the cash register, incentivizing salads and other nutrient dense options in the pay by the pound stations, implementing a healthy icon on the weekly menu and at the point of presentation and featuring a different vegetable and healthy recipe, monthly, on the dining blog. The University also partners with four students who act as representatives for vegetarian diets, gluten-free diets, kosher diets and overall dining. The student dining representatives act as a resource for their peers who wish to explore more sustainable eating habits and promote healthier options through social media.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer a plant-based food option at every platform serving meat.
Progress To Date

George Washington University’s Pelham Commons dining hall offers a range of plant-based food options, with at least one plant-based entrée or side at every platform serving meat.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer a healthier catering menu that only includes foods and beverages that meet healthier food and nutrition guidelines.
Progress To Date

George Washington University offers a healthier catering menu that highlights catering menu options with less than 700 calories, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat, less than 800 mg of sodium and zero grams of trans fat. The menu is featured on social media and shared with student groups and campus partners.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Provide marked walking routes on campus, one of which must be at least two (2) miles in length and have distance markers at regular intervals. A route map is made available to individuals on campus.
Progress To Date

George Washington University's Lerner Health and Wellness Center provides maps and distance information for nine walking and jogging routes on the University website available to all students, faculty, staff and community members. Walking and jogging routes begin on campus and vary in length from 0.75 to 8 miles on their website. Physical markers are unavailable due to the urban setting of the campus.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer, without a user fee, a minimum of one (1) monthly "how to" physical activity/ movement class that introduces students to new activities.
Progress To Date

George Washington University periodically offers free group exercise classes that introduce students to new activities. In 2017, Campus Recreation offered opportunities to participate in a variety of yoga classes, MixxedFit, Zumba and Body Pump.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Provide at least one outdoor running/walking track that is open and available for use to individuals on campus and the community for at least three (3) hours per day.
Progress To Date

The George Washington University's Lerner Health and Wellness Center provides information on nine different running/walking routes in the Foggy Bottom and surrounding areas. The routes vary in length from 0.75 miles to 8 miles. No outdoor track facility is available on campus.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Provide an outdoor fitness system.
Progress To Date

George Washington University students have access to four outdoor fitness stations at three locations on, and adjacent to, campus.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer at least one (1) free, organized and facilitated, outdoor physical activity/movement opportunity each week.
Progress To Date

George Washington University offers a variety of regular outdoor physical activity opportunities including gardening in the GroW Community Garden and a walking and running club, both organized twice per week. During the summer months the University also facilitates a regular softball league.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Implement an integrated, comprehensive wellness program for individuals on campus that is provided annually.
Progress To Date

The Healthy GW initiative serves to unify campus wellness efforts and to engage faculty, staff and student populations in active and healthy lifestyles. Healthy GW identifies and promotes strategies in which the University can support and advance wellness efforts including mental and physical health, nutrition, safety and sustainable practices. Healthy GW also works to increase community engagement around these issues. A committee comprised of faculty, students and staff meets monthly to discuss ways to synergize healthy efforts on campus and makes recommendations to inform senior leadership. Some examples of wellness efforts include the announcement of Smoke-Free GW in August 2013, the progress toward full integration of student well-being services at the Colonial Health Center, and the collaboration of the Urban Food Task Force.

Partner Statement

“The George Washington University (GW) has successfully implemented twenty-three PHA Healthier Campus Initiative commitments to promote healthy living on campus and throughout our community. In 2017 we achieved 12 of our goals, the most we had ever completed in one year. Since 2014, GW has made significant improvements to our campus environment to make the healthy choice the easy choice. We recognize that college is a time when students develop lifelong habits which could have long-term health effects. Through the completion of our commitments, we have taken important steps forward in our goal to make our campus healthier. We are proud of the work done by all those involved to help drive healthier changes at GW and complete our commitments to PHA and our community.”