Exercise Science Department earns ‘Bronze’ from national organization

Congratulations to Grand Rapids Community College, GRCC Exercise Science Department and GRCC Exercise is Medicine Team for receiving a “Bronze Recognition Award” from American College of Sports Medicine/Exercise is Medicine Organization.

Bronze Level: Focuses on physical activity promotion and awareness and opportunities to be physically active. Bronze universities/colleges aim to make physical activity a priority on campus and within the surrounding community, emphasizing the benefits that come with regular exercise.

Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) is a program calling upon universities and colleges to engage in the promotion of 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 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.

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.

Congratulations to Grand Rapids Community College, GRCC Exercise Science Department, GRCC Exercise is Medicine Team for their efforts in providing an atmosphere of learning that improves the health, wellness, and physical activity levels of our students.