Creating Healthier Places

University of Oregon

2017 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2014
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 2017

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Implement a local food procurement program that increases procurement of local and sustainable foods.

    Progress To Date

    The University of Oregon Housing Dining and Catering has implemented a local procurement program featuring in-season goods and local products.The University currently procures more than $902,000 or 12% of its total dining and catering budget on local and community-owned food and beverage purchases, supporting more than 45 local farms and vendors. Other sustainability initiatives include the use of compostable service ware and efforts to donate unused food to the local food bank.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2017

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    The University of Oregon makes free water available in all dining, recreational and educational facilities, through a combination of water fountains and bottle filling stations.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2017

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Post signage requiring cars to stop for pedestrians at all designated or marked crosswalks on campus.

    Progress To Date

    The University of Oregon Long Range Transportation Plan and associated policies encourage the use of pedestrian, bicycle and public transport as modes of travel, while discouraging the use of private cars. The plan includes specific recognition of the need to enforce priority rights of the pedestrians through such actions as providing adequately wide sidewalks, improving pathways, and encouraging City of Eugene and the Oregon Department of Transportation to adjust signals for pedestrian ease. Additionally, the University posts signage requiring cars to stop for pedestrians at all designated crosswalks on campus.

  • 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 Duck Nest Wellness Center assists all students, faculty and staff in developing self-care and life-balance strategies related to stress, nutrition, physical activity and general wellness. The center is led by a Student Health Advisory Committee and staffed by 30 Peer Wellness Advocates who provide health information and resources to the campus community. During the 2016-2017 school year, the Duck Nest hosted 290 wellness programs reaching 3,992 attendees. An additional 67 campus outreach events, conducted through the Duck Nest, reached an estimated 6,838 students with wellness programming on topics including stress reduction, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, sexual health and tobacco cessation. New students and residential assistants receive information on the Duck Nest each year.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2017

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

    Offer non-academic cooking skills classes that are available to students.

    Progress To Date

    The University of Oregon Duck Nest Wellness Center offered four cooking classes and outreach events during the 2016 - 2017 school year. Cooking demonstrations featured information on healthy snacks and planning healthy meals on a budget.

Partner Statement

The University of Oregon (UO) completed five metrics in 2017. We are proud to report on the following:

  1. I.B.1. Implement a local food procurement program… The UO Housing Dining and Catering department takes great pride in supporting over 45 local farms and vendors. We feature seasonal and local products and donate unused food to Food for Lane County.
  2. I.E.1.: Make free water available… UO has reconfigured many of our water fountains so water bottles are easily filled. We have free water available in all dining, recreational and educational buildings.
  3. II.A.2.: Post signage requiring cars to stop for pedestrians… UO is an avid bicycling community and also provides bus passes to all employees and students. We host large national events which requires us to be proactive in permanent and temporary signage for directing cars to adhere to crosswalks.
  4. III.A and III.B.6: Implement a comprehensive wellness program and offer non-academic cooking classes… The UO is proud to announce the opening of its new wellness center, The Duck Nest, as of fall 2016. After only one year of being open the Duck Nest offers many classes, including cooking, yoga, meditation and drop-in stress relief assistance.