Partnership for a Healthier America honors MSU鈥檚 commitments to campus well-being
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥旂哿κ悠 is passionate about improving the lives of Magnolia State students and residents, and this ongoing commitment recently was honored by the Partnership for a Healthier America.
In 2015, MSU began a three-year effort with PHA to implement expanded nutrition, physical activity and wellness programming on campus. Since then, the university has fulfilled all 23 health and wellness guidelines developed by PHA in collaboration with some of the nation鈥檚 leading nutrition, physical activity and campus wellness experts.
This month, MSU was honored as a completing PHA partner at the organization鈥檚 annual summit in Chicago, Illinois. Taylor VanDyk, registered dietician and health and wellness educator for MSU鈥檚 Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, accepted the recognition on the university鈥檚 behalf.
Among others, MSU鈥檚 PHA commitments include:
鈥擬aking free water available in all dining, recreational and educational facilities through a combination of water fountains, dispensers and bottle filling stations.
鈥擮ffering an outdoor fitness system adjacent to the university鈥檚 Joe Frank Sanderson Center recreation facility and Chadwick Lake. Made by Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Equipment, the fitness system is free and accessible to campus and community members 24 hours a day. It was installed as part of MSU on the Move, the university鈥檚 health and wellness initiative. The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation provided nearly $1.5 million dollars to implement the MSU on the Move initiative to build a sustainable campus culture of health and wellness that reaches into the surrounding communities and schools.
鈥擮ffering a free WalkFit program each week to empower students, faculty and staff to walk around campus and perform optional exercise movements along the way.
鈥淥ver the past several years, 幺力视频 has incorporated wellness initiatives including a facilitated outdoor walking program and comprehensive wellness education programs with nutrition and exercise components. We also have made free water available in every academic and recreational building across campus,鈥 said Leah Pylate, director of MSU鈥檚 health promotion and wellness department. 鈥淲e are excited to continue our efforts to make 幺力视频 a healthier community and better place to live.鈥
For more information, visit or contact VanDyk at 662-325-7683 or tvandyk@saffairs.msstate.edu.
Learn more about MSU鈥檚 Division of Student Affairs and its Department of Health Promotion and Wellness at and .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .