Healthier Campus Initiative

Grand Valley State University

2019 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2016

Length of Commitment: 3 years

Select a Progress Report:

View Partner

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 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

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

Grand Valley State University offers at least five fruits, five vegetables and two 100% whole grain options at both lunch and dinner.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Implement a comprehensive, strategic product placement/merchandizing program/policy within dining venues to encourage healthier food consumption
Progress To Date

Grand Valley State University implemented a strategic product placement and merchandising program to promote consumption of healthier options in its dining facilities. Strategies include offering only healthier foods and beverages within five feet of payment stations, listing healthier options first on menu and combination boards and creating and posting signage advertising the availability of plant-based patties at campus grill stations. To promote water consumption, hydration stations received increased signage, improved accessibility and the addition of lemons and limes to add to water. To decrease consumption of fried foods, french fries and other fried options are now offered in non-self service areas behind sneeze guards and must be served to customers by dining employees.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Provide marked walking routes on campus, one of which must be at least two (2) miles in length and have distance markers at regular intervals. A route map is made available to individuals on campus.
Progress To Date

Grand Valley State University has identified a number of biking and walking routes on campus, including both Allendale and the downtown Grand Rapids (Pew) campuses. Routes include both indoor one-mile routes through buildings on campus and 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-mile outdoor routes. The Allendale Campus two-mile route is marked with arrows and mileage. All maps are available online.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Provide designated bicycle lanes on major roads and/or offer off-street bicycle paths throughout campus.
Progress To Date

Grand Valley State University offers two multi-use, off-street bicycle paths and a connector route through campus, totaling nearly one mile. Each bicycle lane is at least three feet wide.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Provide an outdoor fitness system.
Progress To Date

Grand Valley State University is in the process of installing an outdoor fitness center that will feature stations such as pull up bars and push up bars.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Implement a service learning program available to all students that focuses on food and nutrition and/or physical activity/movement and/or coaching.
Progress To Date

The Grand Valley State University Community Service Learning Center offers a number of opportunities for learning and engaging community organizations around physical health, fitness and nutrition. In 2018, 401 students engaged in 3,059 hours of engagement and interaction with 70 community partners including Kent County Parks and Trails, American Red Cross, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Arts in Motion, Humane Society and Holland Hospital. Other internship and fieldwork programs such as in Health Communications, Health and Nutrition and Movement Science have engaged nearly 1,000 students in service learning opportunities related to food, nutrition, physical activity and coaching during the course of the 2018-2019 school year.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

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

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

Partner Statement

Grand Valley State University is proud to have implemented and met all 23 selected PHA 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. New this year, GVSU implemented our strategic product placement and merchandising program in selected dining venues, created a healthier catering menu, and has a new agreement with dining services ensuring the offering of fruits and vegetables and whole grain products at both lunch and dinner. The university is in the process of ordering and installing our new outdoor fitness system which will be open and available for use by students, faculty and staff. The university also has implemented an annual Wellness Fair each semester, highlighting campus services and resources. Because of the work with PHA and focus on the health and well-being at the university, GVSU was the winner of the Michigan Governor’s Fitness Awards in the very large category for 2019.