University of Bridgeport Recognized by ACSM's Exercise is Medicine Program for Creating Culture of Wellness on Campus

UB among 145 campuses honored worldwide

by University of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT (05/22/2024) — University of Bridgeport (UB) is proud to have recently been awarded silver-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program. UB is among the 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 its campus. Proclamations from President Danielle Wilken naming March "Exercise is Medicine Month," along with development of the Seaside Gateway walking trail and activities through Wheeler Recreation Center, helped UB earn the distinction from the nationally recognized program. Exercise is Medicine is a community-impact initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine.

"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 interim CEO of EIM, Katie Feltman, CAE. "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."

For the fall 2023 semester, the EIM leadership team partnered with Campus Recreation to offer the UB community a variety of classes and events focused on physical activity. Spin and yoga classes were held regularly, along with "Wellness Wednesdays," which allowed the UB community to explore all that the recently renovated Wheeler Recreation Center has to offer. In addition, UB's School of Chiropractic student Sierra Lee provided personal training to faculty, staff, and students. A spring Health & Wellness Fair was offered in March, and the EIM-OC team has more events planned for fall 2024.

"It is essential that every person includes some level of physical activity as part of their routine to maintain optimum levels of health. The evidence is clear that individuals who participate in regular exercise can extend the number of healthy years lived, known as health span," said Michael Ciolfi, Dean of the College of Health Sciences

Of the 145 campuses recognized this year, 83 received gold, 44 received silver, and 18 received bronze. All 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.

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.

To learn more about University of Bridgeport's Exercise is Medicine campaign, visit https://www.bridgeport.edu/student-affairs/exercise-is-medicine-on-campus

About Exercise Is Medicine

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine (EIM) in 2007 with the American Medical Association. ACSM continues to manage the global health initiative, which seeks to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting healthcare with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care. Visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org for additional information.

About the American College of Sports Medicine

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. More details at www.acsm.org.

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