GETTYSBURG – The HACC- Gettysburg Campus has been recognized with a gold-level “Start! Fit-Friendly Company” award by the American Heart Association.The campus earned the award by offering physical activity support, increasing healthy eating options at work and promoting a wellness culture. The heart association’s goal is reduce heart disease – the top killer in the United States – by making the workplace a fit-friendly environment.
A campus Wellness Committee promoted initiatives and developed new programs and activities, such as participation in the Blue Cross Walking Works program, informal walking/jogging groups, promotion of weekly WellSpan community walking parties, and development of indoor and outdoor walking paths and maps. In addition, employees could attend Jazzercise and Yoga classes, and participate in spring and fall fitness challenges, a spring bicycle clinic, and informal group exercise sessions to workout tapes and CDs.
Nutrition activities included healthy choices served by the on-campus SUBWAY and Ragged Edge Coffee Bar food service providers, point-of-service nutrition information provided by SUBWAY, a nutrition exhibit at the Staff & Faculty Spring Health Fair, inclusion in campus Event Space Guidelines of a request that event planners offer at least one healthy food and one healthy beverage option at each meal served, and a request that vending companies provide a selection of healthy food options.
Activities under culture included establishment of the campus wellness committee; the first campus Staff & Faculty Spring Health Fair which included blood pressure screening and body composition analysis; and providing a Center of Wellness information board and wall pockets for announcements of college and community wellness-related activities and health information.
