The University of Vermont is one of only 149 universities and colleges worldwide to be honored by Exercise is Medicine® for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Exercise Science students’ passion for making movement a part of daily campus culture and helping others in our campus community cultivate lifelong physical activity habits helped UVM earn gold-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program.
“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Robyn Stuhr, vice president of Exercise is Medicine. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.”
“This is the sixth consecutive year UVM has earned gold-level designation,” said Connie Tompkins, associate professor of exercise science and UVM’s EIM-OC leadership team advisor. “I am so proud of our students’ efforts and campus support, especially from Student Health Services and Campus Recreation, to help make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care. Students from our Exercise Science program, and particularly our student EIM-OC Ambassadors, are trained and knowledgeable in promoting physical activity and creating a culture of health on campus.”
Of the 149 campuses recognized this year, 73 received gold, 55 silver and 21 bronze. All gold, silver and bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on June 1 as part of the 2023 Exercise is Medicine World Congress, held in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.
EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health and encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community.
EIM-OC launched its recognition program in 2014 to honor campuses for their efforts to create a culture of wellness. Schools earn gold, silver or bronze status based on their activities. Gold-level campuses have created a referral system where campus healthcare providers assess student physical activity and refer students as necessary to a certified fitness professional as part of medical treatment. Silver campuses engage students, faculty and staff in education initiatives and make movement part of the daily campus culture, while bronze-level campuses promote and generate awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.