W&M Exercise is Medicine
The Exercise is Medicine® on Campus initiative calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff, and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:
- Making movement a part of the daily campus culture
- Assessing physical activity at every student health visit
- Providing students with the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime
- Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription
William & Mary is a registered Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) school and has the Bronze level recognition. EIM-OC brings the Exercise is Medicine® mission to colleges and universities around the world.
MissionFoster collaborative relationships and leadership on campus between exercise, health, and other disciplines that support the EIM-OC vision and goals. |
VisionSee all campus and community members across multiple disciplines discover, share, and adopt the principles of EIM-OC that will help change the culture of chronic disease prevention and management campus-wide. |
W&M EIM-OC Leadership Team
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Why have an EIM Initiative on Campus?Healthy People 2020 set a goal of engaging 47.9% of the U.S. population in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. In their 2013 survey of college students nationwide, the ACHA-NCHA (American College Health Association-National College Health Association) reported that 22.8% of college males and 23.6% of college females do not engage in moderate-intensity exercise, while 33.0% of college males and 41.2% of college females do not engage in vigorous-intensity exercise. The prevalence of physical inactivity is high and there is a great need for the prevention and treatment of the chronic diseases associated with this, such as Type II Diabetes, Obesity, and Heart Disease. Providing opportunities for physical activity, creating a culture on campus that embraces movement as a daily facet of life, and providing the behavioral tools necessary to enact that change are key to facilitating lifelong physical activity habits and meeting public health goals. |
W&M Exercise is Medicine® on CampusIn February 2018 William & Mary achieved Bronze Level Recognition. This means that we have been recognized for promoting physical activity and opportunities to be physically active. Bronze universities aim to make physical activity a priority on campus and within the surrounding community, emphasizing the benefits that come with regular exercise. Ways in which we do this are:
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Be Mindful of Multi-Dimensional WellnessWilliam & Mary Health and Wellness and the Healthy Campus Coalition support the Exercise is Medicine Initiative on Campus. We believe that physical health and wellness is important and necessary for every college student to attend to in order to succeed. We believe the other seven dimensions of wellness are also important to give attention to. Remember that all facets of wellness need our attention for us to truly flourish. There doesn't have to be a balance among all dimensions. Instead, the goal is to find a personal harmony with the dimensions that is most authentic for you. Remember that participating in healthy activities often fulfills multiple areas of wellness (e.g. taking a walk outside with friends can be Physical Wellness, Environmental Wellness, Social Wellness and Emotional/Mental Wellness). |
