Graduating with a respected degree, clearly defined career path and rich opportunities outside the classroom are important goals for college students but can come with challenges to their health and well-being.
Adding another obligation to the list for busy college students might seem daunting, but scientific evidence is piling up that shows regular exercise provides important cognitive benefits for scholars. MSU is helping to meet this challenge through the MSU Exercise is Medicine on Campus, or EIM-OC, initiative.
For the second year in a row MSU EIM-OC was recognized with the ActiveU award from the Midwest regional chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, or MWACMS. The award recognizes a university that has implemented a creative and sustainable collegiate program using the EIM-OC principle of making physical activity an integral part of personal health and well-being.
"Exercise is Medicine on campus has been around for over 10 years now and provides an excellent opportunity to positively impact the physical activity behaviors of those working at universities. To have won this prestigious regional award two years in a row tells me that MSU takes the challenge seriously," said James Pivarnik, faculty advisor for MSU EIM-OC.
EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:
- Making movement a part of the daily campus culture
- Assessing physical activity at every student health visit
- Providing students with the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime
- Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription.
The MSU EIM-OC initiative is active on campus with events and programs such as the Annual Healthy Homecoming Walk, Destress for Success Finals events, a registered student organization and a physical activity mentoring program.
The mentoring program, ACTIVE Spartans, matches participants with a physical activity mentor through an exercise prescription referral system.
“This award represents collective and continued efforts of various campus partners making a commitment to making movement a part of the daily campus culture, promoting physical activity as an essential part of healthy campus and giving individuals the tools needed to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives," said Kristin Traskie, EIM-OC leadership team and Fitness and Wellness program coordinator.
For more information on the MSU EIM-OC Initiative please visit olin.msu.edu.