Healthier Campus Initiative

University of Houston

2019 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2016

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
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

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

University of Houston offers at least one wellness meal at breakfast, lunch and dinner at Cougar Woods and Moody Towers Dining Commons. Wellness meals are promoted to students, faculty and staff at the point of presentation.
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

University of Houston offers a wide range of plant-based food options, with at least one plant-based entrée or side at every platform serving meat.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Ensure that a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of vending machines offer only healthier food and beverage products or fifty percent (50%) of each vending machine content is healthier food and beverage products.
Progress To Date

University of Houston is making progress toward the goal of offering at least 50% healthier items in all vending machines through a collaboration between the Wellness Planning Committee and Auxiliary Services to assess the contents of all 55 vending machines on campus and implement healthier vending options. As a result, all snack machines now contain healthier options from Canteen's Choice Plus product line of better-for-you items and beverage machines contain at least two or three healthier products. Before this initiative, 24 machines contained no healthier foods or beverages and now, 98% of machines contain at least 10% healthier options. Healthier products across all machines have increased by 74%.
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

University of Houston's Cougar Walking Paths include five walking routes on campus varying in length between 0.3 miles and 1.3 miles. Each route is a themed path highlighting a different area of campus. Cougar Walking Path maps are featured on the University website and UH GO App and the paths are promoted via press releases, newsletters, on TV screens in the Student Center, campus dining halls and various classroom buildings and in combination with the University policy of 30 minutes, three times per week of "Fitness Release Time" for employees.
Implementation Date
April 2019
Reporting Date
June 2019

Commitment Element
Provide an outdoor fitness system.
Progress To Date

The University of Houston has installed a stationary Outdoor Physical Fitness System featuring equipment for upper-body, core and lower-body workouts. The fitness system is located at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center field.

Partner Statement

Since committing to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), Healthier Campus Initiative, the University of Houston (UH) has made significant gains towards creating a culture of wellness on campus. By implementing 23 of the PHA guidelines, UH has worked to create an environment that promotes and supports healthier eating habits as well as increased physical activity. An example of this, and one of the guidelines we are most proud of, is our new Cougar Walking Paths, which are located in different parts of the campus and highlight some of the University’s amazing outdoor art. Featured on the University’s UH Go app, the paths support employees’ participation in the University’s Fitness Release Time policy by providing them with defined routes to follow as they engage in physical activity on campus. Beyond the completion of the selected guidelines, the University now hosts an annual Healthy Campus Week for the entire campus community and has implemented an additional guideline, the installation of a Bike Share program! Additional outcomes resulting from of our participation in PHA include the strengthening of relationships with existing partners and the development of new ones. Soon health professionals from the University’s new medical school will join our wellness committee. Together, we will continue efforts to develop new and innovative ways of promoting health and well-being at the University of Houston. Without question, PHA’s Healthier Campus Initiative has enhanced the UH campus and bolstered our resolve to create a healthier campus community!