NC State Completes Healthier Initiative Early

NC State, an inaugural partner in the Healthier Campus Initiative, is the first institution in the nation to complete its commitment to expand healthier options across campus.

The initiative works with the private sector and the nonprofit Partnership for a Healthier America, a nonpartisan effort supported by some of the nation’s most respected health and childhood obesity advocates, including First Lady Michelle Obama. NC State was one of 38 colleges and universities selected for a three-year commitment to adopt guidelines around nutrition, physical activity and programming.

Building on existing efforts around campus, NC State was the first to implement all 23 guidelines in the first year of its commitment to encourage healthier options to more than 40,000 students, faculty and staff.

“Our commitment to providing a healthier campus and the strengths of our campus wide partnerships are reflected in this significant achievement,” NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson said. “We’re proud to be part of this critical effort and hope our leadership spurs others to provide healthier options in their communities.”

Each of the 23 guidelines has been verified by a third party. Among NC State’s accomplishments are:

• Offering a Dietitian’s Dish wellness meal daily at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Designating healthier food and beverage options in vending machines, C-stores and dining facilities using the Wolf-Approved healthy icon program.
• Ensuring that free water is available at all dining, recreational and educational facilities.
• Providing more than 150 group fitness classes each week in addition to more than 25 intramural activities each year.
• Opening a Functional Training area on campus, featuring more than 4,000 square feet of functional fitness space, complete with a cargo net, dip bars, sit-up benches, wall ball targets and box jumps.
• Combatting food insecurity on campus and throughout the community through the Feed the Pack Pantry.

“Just a year ago, PHA launched its Healthier Campus Initiative in an effort to create healthier food and physical activity environments on campuses across the nation,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “The fact that NC State has already met all elements of its commitment is a testament to its leadership in the effort to make healthier choices easier on college and university campuses, and we couldn’t be prouder to have it on board as a PHA partner.”