Healthier Campus Initiative

Davidson College

2019 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2018
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

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    Commitment Element

    Offer only a total number of fried foods that does not exceed the total number of platforms available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner (if served) across all venues.

    Progress To Date

    Davidson College offers fewer total fried foods than the total number of platforms available across both lunch and dinner at the Vail Commons and the Davis Café dining venues.

  • Implementation Date

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    Commitment Element

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

    Progress To Date

    Davidson College provides students with access to two Registered Dietitians to conduct nutrition assessments and provide nutrition counseling. Individual and group counseling sessions are available for advice on healthy college eating, weight loss or gain, sports nutrition, disordered eating behaviors, grocery shopping, healthy cooking, eating around exam time, hypertension high cholesterol, diabetes and adjusting to an American diet.

  • Implementation Date

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    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

    Davidson College provides students, faculty and staff members with free access to the Nisbet Fitness Center 18 hours per day, 7 days per week. Students may also access the Davidson Outdoors climbing wall, Baker Sports Complex, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, Irwin Belk Track and Lake Campus for fitness and recreation opportunities.

  • Implementation Date

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    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

    Davidson College offers a range of diverse competitive and non-competitive fitness opportunities with at least 17 physical education courses, 21 intramural and club sports, multiple Outdoor Odyssey programs, a challenge course and an indoor bouldering wall. Davidson College requires participation in its physical education program for graduation in order to provide students with a foundation of leisure and recreational activities for a healthy, physically active lifestyle.

  • Implementation Date

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    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

    Insufficient data for verification.

  • Implementation Date

    April 2021

    Reporting Date

    June 2019

    Commitment Element

    Offer a rental outdoor recreation equipment program for students.

    Progress To Date

    Davidson College's Davidson Outdoors offers a range of outdoor equipment rentals to students, faculty and staff for a nominal fee. Equipment options include items for camping and climbing, disc golf sets and stand up paddleboards. During the summer, students may also rent canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards at the Davidson College Lake Campus.

Partner Statement

Davidson College has just completed its first year as an HCI partner. We jumped into Healthy Campus Week head first in September and even won the Physical Activity Challenge with our #catsonthemovecampaign. We had three campus partners attend the PHA Summit in Chicago and found that to be very helpful, as well as motivating. Some changes that we have implemented in our main dining hall have included serving smaller portioned desserts, offering infused waters and carbonated water, repositioning dishes on our hot line to feature plant-based dishes first, and a switch from 2% to 1% milk. Davidson Outdoors has opened up participation in trips and events to more students by linking our aid for trips costs to the amount of aid an individual student receives from the College. In the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters we offered more than 24 trips and on-campus activities. We are also realigning our outdoor programming to better meet students where they are, rather than only offering what is perceived to be ‘high adventure’ options.