Creating Healthier Places

Howard University

2018 Progress Report

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

Committed to meet 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 2018

    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

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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

    Howard University offers at least five fruits, five vegetables and two 100% whole grain options at both lunch and dinner at the Bethune Annex Dining Hall and Blackburn Café.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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

    Howard University offers fewer total fried foods than the total number of platforms available at both lunch and dinner at the Blackburn Dining Hall and Bethune Annex Dining Hall.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Label food and beverage items offered with calories per serving at the point of presentation. OR Designate healthier food and beverage options using a healthy icon at the point of presentation.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University identifies all foods and beverages with calories, additional nutrition information and the Sodexo "Mindful" healthy icon at the point of presentation.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Offer a plant-based food option at every platform serving meat.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University offers a range of plant-based food options, with at least one plant-based entrée or side at every platform serving meat.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    Howard University works with two produce vendors to procure local produce from up to 39 local farms in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina and New Jersey.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    Howard University implemented tray-less dining in it's Blackburn Dining Hall and Bethune Annex Dining Hall in 2010.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Offer a healthier catering menu that only includes foods and beverages that meet healthier food and nutrition guidelines.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University's Flavours Catering by Sodexo offers a range of food and beverages on the catering menu that meet Sodexo's Mindful nutrition criteria. Items that meet the Mindful criteria feature a healthy icon and customers may search the online catering menu to identify these healthier options.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Ensure the percentage of healthier beverage purchases (in dollars) is a minimum of sixty percent (60%) of total beverage purchases (in dollars) for catering.

    Progress To Date

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

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

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    Howard University provides access the D.C.'s bikeshare service, Capital Bikeshare, with a docking station on campus. Capital Bikeshare connects individuals on campus to 4,300 bikes and more than 500 stations across 6 jurisdictions in Washington, D.C., Arlington, VA, Alexandria, VA, Montgomery, MD, Prince George's County, MD and Fairfax County, VA.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Implement a bicycle and pedestrian accommodation program/policy (e.g., Complete Streets) or participate in a national bicycle or pedestrian recognition program (e.g., Bicycle Friendly University)

    Progress To Date

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Implement a campus-wide program/policy that incentivizes the use of public or campus provided transportation.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University promotes public transportation for faculty, staff, students and visitors through many convenient transportation options, including a free university shuttle, public transportation, bicycling and car-sharing. The free shuttle service offers connection to both the Main and West campus from nearby Metro stations. A live shuttle tracking service is also available to improve convenience for riders.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Offer a minimum of twenty (20) diverse recreation, physical activity/movement or competitive sports opportunities during each academic year.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University offers 23 unique recreation, physical activity and competitive sports opportunities each year with 12 intramural sports and 11 competitive sports activities available.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    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 Banneker Community Center track, located parallel to Howard University's main campus, is open and available to students, faculty, staff and community 24 hours a day.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Offer at least one (1) free, organized and facilitated, outdoor physical activity/movement opportunity each week.

    Progress To Date

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Make available certified personal trainers for all students.

    Progress To Date

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    No data submitted.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Implement a program/policy that identifies students who may be 'food insecure' and provides options on campus.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University's The Store@HU food pantry was established to reduce short-term food insecurity among its student body, thus supporting educational success and retention. The Store@HU is open to all students attending the University and may be accessed by each student up to three times per month.

  • Implementation Date

    September 2018

    Reporting Date

    November 2018

    Commitment Element

    Offer a rewards-on-benefits structured program that gives insurance premium discounts and/or rebates to individuals on campus who participate in a wellness program designated by the health insurer or campus.

    Progress To Date

    Howard University provides access to the Cigna wellness program where employees receive up to a $300 debit card each year for completing a personalized health assessment, participating in annual screenings and wellness exams, improving nutrition, engaging in physical activity and making progress toward weight management and/or chronic health condition goals.

Partner Statement

“In 2015 Howard University entered in to the Partnership for a Healthier America with the goal of improving nutrition and wellness for all campus stakeholders. Since entering the partnership, the University has successful worked with our campus dining partner, Sodexo, to consistently offer a larger variety of fruits and vegetables and reduce instances of unhealthy food options. Other commitments completed during our three-year commitment included improved food labeling, a commitment to the variety of physical activities and recreational sports offered and continued support of campus community health and wellness through health programming provided through our Insurance partners. Work to maintain a healthy campus culture will extend beyond the three- year commitment and we are grateful for the network of support provided by the Partnership for a Healthier America to meet our holistic wellness goals.”