The University of Nebraska–Lincoln wellness initiative is a one-stop resource to help employees and students pursuing individual goals related to health and wellbeing.
The initiative, which was established by the chancellor’s office in 2008, is integrated into Campus Recreation and offers programming and resources in seven areas of wellness —physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, social and occupational.
“Our goal is to help the campus community meet individual wellness goals,” said Kimberly Barrett, assistant director for wellness services and fitness programs. “We provide a one-stop resource for information about programs on campus and in the community.
“If you are an employee or a student seeking a particular wellness goal, connect with us because we can find a program that will fit your needs.”
A new wellness initiative program offered this semester is Fit + Fueled, a four-week program focused on weight loss and management. The program provides an instructor-led fitness program each week, a nutrition consultation and access to other individuals seeking to living healthier.
“Fit and Fuel is designed to help participants establish a lifestyle change to help them become healthier and feel better,” Barrett said. “It’s not just another weight-loss diet or 30-day challenge. This is about a community of people coming together to lose weight, gain confidence and make meaningful lifelong changes.”
Information about the program, which costs $40 for students and campus rec members or $86 for non-members, is available online and in sessions on Jan. 20 and 25. The information sessions are at noon Jan. 20 and 5 p.m. Jan. 25. Both are in the Campus Recreation Center on City Campus, Room 55C.
Three of the four-week Fit + Fuel sessions are scheduled, starting with the first on Jan. 30.
Other wellness initiative programs include:
Wellness Ambassadors, a program featuring volunteers who promote wellness programs within campus departments and units. There are currently nearly 60 wellness ambassadors universitywide. The ambassadors also help develop annual wellness plans for departments and units. The plans are in turn used to select the winner of the Outstanding Contributions to Employee Wellness award, an annual honor presented through the wellness initiative. For more information on the ambassador program, click here.
A Wellness Initiative newsletter that highlights related programs and activities on campus. Regular features of the newsletter include healthy recipes, fitness class schedules, and stories about wellness-related topics. To receive the newsletter, send an email request to kbarrett4@unl.edu.
Seven on the Seventh, a program that releases a video featuring seven activities that can be done at a desk to improve wellness. The videos are posted online on the seventh of each month. For more information, click here.
Walking maps that feature routes inside and around campus buildings are also being expanded. Buildings that are included in the walking map program include the College of Business Administration, Oldfather Hall, Hardin Hall and the Barkley Center. The Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School is the next building to be added. For more information, or to request the creation of a building walking map, click here.
Wellness presentations on a variety of topics are free and available to the entire campus community. For more information, click here.
