BGSU launches 'WellAware' program with Rec Center discount

BGSU wants its employees to be “well aware” of the benefits of taking care of one’s health. The first step in a new program sponsored by Human Resources is an incentive for faculty and staff to make wellness a priority.

The University is offering a 30-50 percent discount on membership to the Student Recreation Center beginning in January to those who participate in three to five health-related activities on campus. These range from attending talks on health care management to walking at the Perry Field House to joining Weight Watchers at Work.

“We’re trying to make it fairly easy for people to participate in this,” said Joanne Navin, a certified nurse practitioner and case manager at Human Resources.

The WellAware committee has identified existing programs, courses and activities across campus that will qualify toward the discounted membership. Participating employees will receive a “wellness card” for each activity. They will then redeem the cards at the Human Resources office in December for a certificate entitling them to a reduction in Rec Center membership. Those who already have purchased annual memberships will receive a rebate.

The program is a result of several factors coming together, Navin said. “For the past few years, the University has been considering implementing a wellness program. Also, Faculty Senate and Administrative and Classified Staff councils petitioned for an employee discount at the Student Recreation Center. The result was the WellAware Program,” she said.

The discount is only the first step in a larger program that is being developed. “We want to increase awareness about wellness, which will also help us decrease our health care costs and educate people to use health care services wisely,” Navin said.

Rebecca Ferguson, assistant vice president for human resources, stated, “Wellness issues have been discussed and studied on this campus for years. Our office can’t thank enough the staff and faculty who have kept the issue alive. We feel fortunate to now have received the support necessary to develop and implement a long-term approach to employee wellness at BGSU.”

One of the first activities is a presentation given by Navin and Stephen Horowitz, family and consumer sciences, who has been involved in promoting health awareness on campus for some time. The two are holding discussions on personal health care management for BGSU employees, examining such issues as why health care costs continue to rise. They will offer strategies and tools for managing health care costs as well as personal health care strategies.

The next two hourlong sessions are at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 19 in 314 Bowen-Thompson Student Union, and at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 in 207 Union. To register, call 2-8421 or email ohr@bgnet.bgsu.edu.

Other ways to earn cards include getting a flu shot or a blood pressure screening at the Student Health Service, attending a talk on dietetics offered by University Dining Services, having a hearing screening at the College of Health and Human Services, or attending one of Environmental Health and Safety’s training sessions. More ways are being identified and will be communicated to the campus in the Monitor and the Marketing and Communications email.