Healthier Campus Initiative

2019 Progress Report

Young adulthood and the transition to college is a time of intellectual curiosity and independence, but it is also the time when unhealthy habits may be cemented for adulthood.

According to a 2014 study published in Preventative Medicine, 95% of college students fail to eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, and more than 60% of students report not getting enough physical activity. The stereotypical college experience involves plenty of junk food, minimal vegetables, poor sleep habits, and sedentary behavior; however, colleges and universities across the country joined the Healthier Campus Initiative to do better for their students, faculty, and community members. The Healthier Campus Initiative is composed of 79 diverse colleges and universities across 33 states, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as those on tribal land.

These schools are dedicated to making nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity both accessible and built into the campus culture. For example, California State University, Fresno – a Hispanic-Serving Institution – installed a state-of-the-art open-air gym so that people of all fitness levels can break a sweat outdoors. Other schools have implemented student-led food pantries, cooking class series, and campus-wide fitness campaigns.

Healthier Campus Initiative

Our college partners reach more than 1.5 million students, including more than 490,000 minority students and more than 370,000 Pell Grant recipients.

All Partners