SRU’s Exercise is Medicine program earns Campus Gold designation

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Slippery Rock University is one of only 55 universities and colleges around the world honored by Exercise is Medicine with EIM On Campus Gold level designation for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.

Slippery Rock University received Exercise is Medicine On Campus Gold level recognition for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.

Oct. 30, 2019

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University is one of only 55 universities and colleges around the world honored by Exercise is Medicine with EIM On Campus Gold level designation for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.

"The culture of our campus leads to many opportunities to promote awareness and participation in physical activity and exercise," said Joy Urda, associate professor of exercise and rehabilitative sciences. "We have programs at the University, like a referral system for exercise prescription, that are part of a collaborative effort between students and faculty in the exercise science program, the President's Commission on Wellness, Student Health Services and Campus Recreation to improve the well-being of everyone in our campus community."

Joy Urda

   URDA

As an example, staff at the Student Health Center may prescribe exercise to students who are not achieving the daily recommended amount of physical activity. That "prescription" can include a free, six-week exercise program at the Aebersold Student Recreation Center. The exercise program is facilitated by senior exercise science students.

EIM is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine to encourage physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans and to refer patients to evidence-based exercise programs and qualified exercise professionals.

"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."

Of the 139 campuses recognized this year, 55 received gold, 56 received silver and 28 received bronze. All recipients will be officially recognized May 29, 2020, as part of the 2019 Exercise is Medicine World Congress, hosted in conjunction with ASCM's Annual Meeting.

To learn more about the EIM-CO program, click here. To learn more about SRU's exercise science program, click here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu