Creating Healthier Places

Florida International University

2017 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2014

Length of Commitment: 3 years

Select a Progress Report:

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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

Insufficient data for verification.
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

Florida International University offers at least three vegetables and one 100% whole grain product at both lunch and dinner at the Fresh Food Company dining venue.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer only a total number of fried foods that does not exceed the total number of platforms available at both lunch and dinner (if served) across all venues.
Progress To Date

Florida International University offers fewer total fried foods than the total number of platforms available at both lunch and dinner at the Fresh Food Company.
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

Insufficient data for verification.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Designate healthier food and beverage options using a healthy icon at the point of presentation.
Progress To Date

Florida International University identifies healthier food and beverage options on online menus with the Just4U Nutrition Highlights healthy icon system.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Implement a local food procurement program that increases procurement of local and sustainable foods.
Progress To Date

Florida International University’s environmental sustainability platform, Green Thread, is working collectively to reduce the environmental impact of campus operations and develop and implement sustainable solutions. Some of the Green Thread initiatives related to campus dining include composting pre-consumer food scraps, recycling coffee grounds for use as natural fertilizer for campus landscaping, donating leftover and unused food to local community organizations, offering reusable to-go boxes and coffee mugs and participating in tray-less dining.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer a minimum of three (3) types of fruits, three (3) types of vegetables, two (2) 100% whole grain products and no more than two (2) fried items on catering menus.
Progress To Date

Florida International University offers a catering menu that contains at least three types of fruits, three types of vegetables and one 100% whole grain product. The menu offers more than two fried items.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Make free water available in all dining, recreational and educational facilities.
Progress To Date

Thirty-four out of 36 dining, recreational and educational facilities make free water available through drinking fountains and water stations.
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

The Nature Preserve Jogging Trail offers a 0.6 mile path around the Florida International University Nature Preserve. The University provides maps and distance information for nine walking and jogging routes on its website available to all students, faculty, staff, and community members. Walking and jogging routes range in length from 0.25 to 5.6 miles. Physical markers are unavailable on any jogging paths or routes.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Provide, without a user fee, sixteen (16)-hour per day access to at least one (1) fitness or recreation center for all students.
Progress To Date

Florida International University provides students with access to the Biscayne Bay Campus and Modesto A. Maidique Campus Wellness & Recreation Centers for 15.2 hours per day, on average, each week.
Implementation Date
September 2017
Reporting Date
November 2017

Commitment Element
Offer, without a user fee, both: a. Fitness/recreation center orientation during the first semester for all incoming students and b. One (1) fitness assessment all students each academic year.
Progress To Date

Florida International University offers free Wellness & Recreation Center orientations on a daily, walk-in basis. Fitness assessments are also available at no charge and include measurement of height and weight, resting heart rate, blood pressure, body composition, muscular strength, endurance testing, cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility.
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

Florida International University's Healthy Living Program at the Student Health Center offers a holistic approach and encourages students to engage in healthy lifestyle practices and healthy decision-making. Trained staff is available for free consultations, workshops and programs on a variety of topics, including stress management, nutrition, sleep management, sexual health and preventative/self-care issues. Services encompass the seven dimensions of wellness - physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental. The University has not established an official coordinated wellness committee, however departments within the University such as the Healthy Living Program, the office for Sustainability, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services and the Wellness and Recreation Center collaborate regularly to provide comprehensive wellness programming to the student body.

Partner Statement

“Florida International University (FIU) had an exciting year as we continued to meet our PHA guidelines. Our new and improved Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC) opened its doors in fall 2017. Our students are taking advantage of the additional space, the indoor track during those hot Florida days, and the specialized fitness areas.

"The Healthy Living Program hosted a ZenFest during Healthy Campus Week that focused on teaching students, faculty, and staff about ways to stay healthy, including making better food choices, incorporating more activity into their daily lives, and using yoga and meditation to improve their mental health. It was so successful, that Healthy Living hosted the event again during spring 2018.

"At the Modesto Maidique Campus, the FIU Food Pantry moved to another location in April 2018; the new location was necessary in order to accommodate the growing need for the program. FIU continues to focus on programs that assist our students with food insecurity. The College and University Food Bank Alliance featured the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus Food Pantry for its innovative program ‘Food for Fines’, which allowed students to donate food items to the food pantry in lieu of paying library fines.

"It has been an honor for FIU to be a part of the first cohort of schools selected for the PHA Healthier Campus Initiative. The past three years have focused on departmental collaborations to bring new, innovated programs and services to our university community. At FIU, we plan to stay on this wellness journey, and continue to make the healthy choice, the easy choice for our Panthers.”