Creating Healthier Places

University of Richmond

2018 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2018

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 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Offer a comparable plant-based food option at every platform serving meat.
Progress To Date

University of Richmond offers a range of plant-based food options and meat-free proteins. Every platform serving meat contains at least one plant-based entrée, side or customization.
Implementation Date
September 2020
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

University of Richmond offers a range of healthier beverages in its catering program including water, no and low calorie carbonated beverages, unsweetened coffees and teas, 100% juices and fat free milks. 73% of all catering beverage purchases were for beverages that meet PHA's criteria for healthier beverages.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

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

University of Richmond makes free water available in all dining, recreational and educational facilities through a combination of water fountains and bottle filling stations.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Make available Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) for personal nutrition assessments and counseling to all students.
Progress To Date

The University of Richmond provides students, faculty and staff with free access to a Registered Dietitian for nutrition assessments, metabolic testing and nutrition counseling on healthy eating and nutritional concerns, including weight gain, weight loss, food allergies, eating disorders, special diets, medical disorders and diabetes.
Implementation Date
September 2020
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

The University of Richmond incentivizes public transportation by providing GRTC Tap Cards to all full-time students, faculty and staff members allowing for free ridership on the GRTC Pulse and transit system. The University shuttle, The Willow Lawn Xpress, also transports students, faculty and staff from the campus the Transportation Hub to the Pulse stop at Willow Lawn.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

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

The University of Richmond provides students with free access to the Weinstein Center for Recreation for 17.1 hours per day, on average, each week.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Offer a minimum of forty (40) total: a. Diverse non-competitive group fitness opportunities during each academic year. AND b. Diverse competitive sports, intramural or informal recreation opportunities each academic year.
Progress To Date

The University of Richmond offers a diverse range of recreation, physical activity and competitive sports opportunities each year, including at least 19 unique group fitness classes, 7 different intramural opportunities, 25 championship, competitive and recreational club sports and outdoor adventures such as kayaking, hiking and climbing.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Offer a rental outdoor recreation equipment program for students.
Progress To Date

The University of Richmond's Outdoor Adventure and Recreation program offers a range of outdoor rental equipment at a nominal fee. Equipment options are available for biking, camping, kayaking, river tubing and lawn games such as volleyball, disc golf and ladder ball.
Implementation Date
September 2020
Reporting Date
November 2018

Commitment Element
Make available certified personal trainers for all students
Progress To Date

The University of Richmond provides students with access to 10 certified personal trainers for individual and buddy personal training sessions at a nominal fee. Faculty, staff and their dependents may also participate in personal training at a discounted rate.
Implementation Date
September 2020
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

The University of Richmond provides employees with access to the MotivateMe incentive program where employees receive up to $120 in gift cards for completing a personalized health assessment and annual preventative exams and participating in campus-wide dimensions of wellness programs and online wellness coaching.

Partner Statement

“The University of Richmond is honored to have completed our first year of PHA commitment with many campus partner relationships including Campus Dining Services, Health Promotion, University Recreation and the Office of Sustainability. In partnership with our Dining Services team, we were able to offer a comparable plant-based food option at every platform serving meat, and offer tray-less dining in at least seventy-five percent (75%) of dining venues. We are also happy to state that we can ensure the percentage of healthier beverage purchases (in dollars) is a minimum of sixty percent (60%) of total beverage purchases (in dollars) for catering. We have highly trained professional staff within our realm of services including a Registered Dietitian, and multiple Personal Trainers that bring a wealth of knowledge to our campus community. We have a robust and diverse group fitness schedules, a fitness floor, and an outdoor recreation program that provides fundamentals skills for lifelong well-being. We truly value a culture of well-being. So, we offer many services to both our students and employees including an employee wellness incentive program where employees can earn rewards for well-being program participation designated in partnership with our health insurer. We are looking forward to our next two years of commitment with PHA and beyond bringing enhanced services to campus to ensure a healthier community!”