Creating Healthier Places

Washington University in St. Louis

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

    Designate healthier food and beverage options using a healthy icon at the point of presentation.

    Progress To Date

    Washington University designates healthier food and beverage options using the Connie's Choice healthy icon. Items that are labeled Connie’s Choice meet guidelines for calories, sodium, fat, saturated fat and added sugar. The criteria for bakery items was not mutually agreed upon between PHA and Washington University.

  • 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

    Washington University has created a Better for You Catering Lunch and Dinner Buffet menu based on its Bear Balance nutrition criteria. More than 75 percent of offerings on the Better For You Catering menu meet the Bear Balance criteria.

  • 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

    No data submitted.

  • 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

    Washington University’s BearFit Beginnings is a free semester-long series of complimentary classes that focus on the foundational movements of the human body and introduce students to new physical activities. BearFit trainers serve as instructors for each monthly class. Examples of BearFit Beginnings classes include Running: Race Planning & Gait Analysis, Olympic Lift Techniques: Learning the Fast Lifts and Squatting 101: Learning Safe Techniques.

  • 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

    Washington University Recreation offers complimentary fitness consultations to full-time students and members of the Sumers Recreation Center. Each hour-long consultation includes a health and fitness assessment and the opportunity to discuss fitness goals and available recreation programs with one the BearFit trainers. Complementary 20-minute floor orientations are available at least four times per semester in the Sumers Recreation Center. During orientations, participants receive instruction on proper use of cardio, free weight, selectorized and plate-loaded strength training equipment and have the opportunity to ask questions, observe and participate in demonstrations.

  • 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 eight-lane, 400 meter, Bushyhead Track is available to individuals on campus and to the surrounding community during all regular Athletic Complex hours. Athletic facilities are open between 12 and 17 hours daily.

  • 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

    Washington University’s wellness programs are designed to improve the health and well-being of campus life for students, faculty and staff. The Health and Wellness Committee utilizes and coordinates university-wide resources that encourage inclusive care and dialogue, focusing on programming and outreach that support and enhance the long-term emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health of Washington University community members. Twenty-four Peer Health Educators in the Zenker Wellness Suite offer daily programs including Meditation Mondays, Tasty Tuesday, Wellness Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and Frisky Fridays on topics surrounding mental health, nutrition, fitness, alcohol, other drugs, and sexual health. Integrated wellness programming is also a core component of the Sumers Recreation Center.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2017

    Reporting Date

    November 2017

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    Washington University provides infant nursing facilities throughout the Danforth, North, West and Medical School campuses for use by new mothers, as needed. Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, through grant support from the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee and the School of Medicine’s Dean’s support, launched the Lactation Room Program in 2014. The program promotes healthy families with a campus-wide initiative to protect and support student, faculty, staff, trainee and visitor mothers who breastfeed. The Washington University campus offers 12 infant nursing rooms and 37 additional lactation spaces are available across the medical campus. Each of the locations provides a private space where nursing mothers are welcome to nurse or pump. Rooms are equipped with appropriate signage and a comfortable chair. Some rooms contain a small table, an electrical outlet, sinks, and microwaves and 15 rooms on the medical campus provide access to refrigeration. Supplies for Ameda pumps are available for purchase in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Pharmacy.

Partner Statement

“Washington University in St Louis strives to provide an environment that fosters the development of healthy lifestyle habits. Our commitment to Partnership for a Healthier America was a good step in helping us enhance our programming, our campus environment and our offerings that support healthy living. We look forward to growing our efforts to help our campus community with their healthy living behaviors.”