Creating Healthier Places

Leech Lake Tribal College

2017 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2015
Length of Commitment: 3 years
Select a Progress Report:

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 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Offer tray-less dining in at least seventy-five percent (75%) of dining venues.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College offers two to three meals each week. Meals are prepared onsite at the Mino-ayaawigamig Wellness Center with a plated entrée and a buffet available for side and salads. No trays are used for meal service.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Make free water available in all dining, recreational and educational facilities.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College makes free water available in all five building on campus through a combination of water fountains, bottle filling stations and 5 gallon water dispensers.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Make available Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) for personal nutrition assessments and counseling to all students.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College’s collaborative nutrition partner, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Nutrition Services Program, provides free nutrition education and assessment to all enrolled members of a federally-recognized American Indian Tribe. Through this collaboration, students have access to a registered dietitian and a nutritionist for counseling on a range of topics including general nutrition, medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, weight loss and other nutrition related diseases, prenatal nutrition and menu planning.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Provide at least one (1) bicycle parking space on campus for every twenty (20) individuals on campus.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College provides access to 18 bicycle parking spaces through one centrally located bike rack. This provides one space for every 12 students, faculty and staff on campus.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Offer a bicycle share/rental program and/or a subsidized bicycle purchase program for all individuals on campus.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College students may access the closest local bike share program, Nice Ride, in Bemidji, Minnesota. Leech Lake Tribal College’s Wellness Center also makes referrals to a local bicycle non-profit, Shifting Gears, which provides refurbished bicycles for free or at a significantly reduced cost.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Provide, without a user fee, twelve (12)-hour per day access to at least one (1) fitness or recreation center for all students.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College offers students, staff and faculty free access to their onsite fitness room from 8am-6pm daily. In addition, through a collaborative arrangement with the Leech Lake Reservation, all students, staff and faculty have free access to Leech Lake’s Diabetes Fitness Center, which is open six days per week and for 12 or more hours five of those days.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    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

    Leech Lake Tribal College provides fitness center orientation to students at the beginning of each semester, as a part of the Mino-ayaawigamig Wellness Center’s presentations. Additionally, the Fitness Center also provides free fitness assessments at any time to participants.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Make available certified personal trainers for all students.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College provides access to four certified personal trainers through a collaboration with the Leech Lake Diabetes Fitness Center. All four trainers are certified through the Native American Fitness Council. Two of the trainers hold Bachelor’s Degrees in Exercise Science.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Implement an integrated, comprehensive wellness program for individuals on campus that is provided annually.

    Progress To Date

    The Mino-ayaawigamig Wellness Center serves to support students and improve overall wellbeing on campus through a holistic wellness model of mind, body and spirit. The Mino-ayaawigamig offers a range of wellness programming including lunch and learns on wellness topics, tobacco education, talking circle support groups, parenting classes, a child-care supperted parent study group and weekly snow shoeing during winter months. The Mino-ayaawigamig does not have a coordinating committee.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Implement a program/policy that identifies students who may be Ôfood insecureÕ and provides options on campus.

    Progress To Date

    Leech Lake Tribal College addresses food insecurity through a number of approaches. The Mino-ayaawigamig Wellness Center provides up to three meals a week that students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend. In addition to meal opportunities, the Wellness Center provides access to healthy snacks to all during their open hours of operation and has a food pantry available to students in need. Food security is monitored annually through campus-wide surveys. Mino-ayaawigamig provides information about area services, including awareness and access to local food resources and emergency assistance, when needed. Leech Lake Tribal College parents may also participate in the Student Parent Support Initiative, sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health. The initiative provides weekly support and education opportunities and student parents may receive assistance with some of their basic needs including diapers, food and emergency support.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Implement a program/policy that supports and accommodates breastfeeding for individuals on campus.

    Progress To Date

    The Mino-ayaawigamig Wellness Center maintains a private lactation room that is open and accessible to all during office hours. The room is designated with signage and has a refrigerator/freezer available for the storage of breast milk. A Head Start building on campus provides easy access for mothers to breastfeed their child or pump and deliver breastmilk. Lake Leech Tribal College maintains a policy that employees may have their babies brought to work at break time and/or lunchtime to breast feed. The policy also states that labeled breastmilk may be stored in any College refrigerator.

Partner Statement

“Leech Lake Tribal College has been making great strides in the areas devoted to healthier eating and is working towards reaching their physical activity goals as well!”