If you see University of Cincinnati employees doing wall sits, taking stretch breaks or getting away from their desks for a midday walk, it’s all part of the school’s plan.
Thousands of University of Cincinnati staff and faculty members have signed on to the campus’ Be Well program since it debuted about a year ago. Be Well promotes a healthful lifestyle through lunch and learns, health screenings and other incentives.
“We focus on all dimensions with our five ‘wells’: Eat Well, Live Well, Move Well, Save Well, Feel Well,” says Ashley Varol, wellness coordinator for the initiative.
Less than a year after launching, the program reached its initial participation goal of 30 percent. “Our feedback has been incredibly positive and welcoming, with many people already citing the program for major health and lifestyle changes,” Varol says.
Coordinating so many people can be challenging, so Be Well turned to SignUpGenius to simplify the process. Varol scheduled volunteers to provide free health screenings and helped craft focus groups of faculty and staff to test ideas for the program.
She also booked free appointments for faculty and staff with a health coach. “This platform has kept things organized and out of my email box — sending and finding emails for people can take too long, and this gives me master lists to work from and keeps records that I can refer back to.”
We’re excited to see how the University of Cincinnati is improving health on campus. That’s genius!