Healthier Campus Initiative

University of Utah

2019 Progress Report

Year Committed: 2019

Length of Commitment: 3 years

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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 2021
Reporting Date
November 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

The University of Utah offers a range of diverse competitive and non-competitive fitness opportunities with at least 17 unique group fitness classes, seven club sports teams, 22 intramural sports and tournaments and an extensive outdoor adventures program.
Implementation Date
September 2021
Reporting Date
November 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

The University of Utah provides students, faculty, staff and the public with access to the 400-meter, nine lane McCarthey Family Track for at least 12 hours, seven days a week, during spring, summer and fall.
Implementation Date
September 2021
Reporting Date
November 2019

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

The University of Utah Outdoor Adventures program offers a range of outdoor equipment rentals to students, faculty and staff for a nominal fee. Over 10,000 pieces of individual equipment are available for boating, camping, hiking, climbing, biking and winter sports.
Implementation Date
September 2021
Reporting Date
November 2019

Commitment Element
Offer at least twenty (20) outdoor recreation clinics and/or trips during each academic year.
Progress To Date

During the 2018-2019 school year, 552 participants engaged in 52 outdoor trips and adventures offered by the University of Utah including, but not limited to, climbing, stand-up paddleboarding, rafting, canyoneering, backpacking and navigation.
Implementation Date
September 2021
Reporting Date
November 2019

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

The University of Utah provides students with access to at least seven certified personal trainers at the George S. Eccles Student Life Center. During the 2018-2019 school year, students participated in 2,020 personal training sessions.
Implementation Date
September 2021
Reporting Date
November 2019

Commitment Element
Implement a program/policy that supports and accommodates breastfeeding for individuals on campus.
Progress To Date

The University of Utah policy provides that nursing students and employees must be granted reasonable time and space to pump breast milk in a location that is private, clean and reasonably accessible. Twenty-one private nursing rooms are available on campus to allow mothers to pump breastmilk or directly breastfeed. Some nursing rooms provide refrigeration. University Hospital is designated Baby Friendly and all infant childcare facilities on campus have policies in place to provide breast milk to children.

Partner Statement

In March 2019, University of Utah President Ruth Watkins committed the University of Utah to the Healthier Campus Initiative. In our first year, we created a Campus Wellness Committee with a wide range of representatives including student affairs, dining services, wellness and integrative health and many more. This committee intends to oversee completion of the twenty-three guidelines over the next three years, as well as provide counsel on campus wellness into perpetuity. In 2019, we verified several physical activity guidelines and were thrilled to highlight our excellent campus recreation programs. For Healthy Campus Week 2019, we hosted tables at two different on-campus Farmers Markets; participated in FNV Friday by giving away apples; and engaged several students in the social media campaign. In 2020 we are excited to dig in to some of our nutrition guidelines and check off a few more physical activity elements as elements of our campus bicycle master plan come together.