HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is one of only 145 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. The Walk and Roll event, Stroll to City Island, and the Presidential Proclamation of EIM Month, in addition to virtual and on-campus inclusive exercise promotion activities, helped HU earn a Bronze-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) program, a community-impact initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Gold, Silver, and Bronze universities and colleges will be officially recognized on May 29 at the EIM recognition ceremony at ACSM’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.
“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 Katie Feltman, CAE, the interim CEO of ACSM. “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.”
Harrisburg University’s Dr. Lori Portzer, Exercise Science Program Lead and EIM-OC advisor, said, “Exercise is Medicine® On Campus allows students, faculty, and staff from any of our campuses and online to engage in physical activity and wellness initiatives as we come together as one cohesive community with a common goal.”
Offering online and traditional academic experiences, including a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Harrisburg University’s Exercise is Medicine® initiatives creatively involve all members of the campus community, regardless of their physical location. The first annual Walk and Roll Challenge yielded over 30 participants generating a “Storm” measuring some 188 miles and led to HU placing fourth overall in the EIM-OC Walking Challenge. Continuing education centered on establishing healthy habits and creative ways to decrease sedentary time and increasing physical activity are shared via an online community board platform that mirrors the learning management system used for coursework delivery. EIM also offers a step-tracking app to add a dose of healthy competition for those who enjoy this type of motivation.
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717-901-5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
