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Environmental & Physical Health HCN Sub-Committee

Mission:

To promote a healthy campus environment that supports students, staff, and faculty learning, working and living on all campus properties. In doing so, we hope that there will be a culture on the UCSB campus such that healthy living in the form of food choices, physical activity and overall fitness is a central part of daily life for our campus community.

Projects:

Draft Goals:

*Please note that these goals were drafted by the Environmental Health Sub-committee and the Emotional and Physical Health Sub-committee of the Healthy Campus Network and are still in the vetting process.  If you would like to give feedback on these goals, please email the Sub-committee Chairs Mo Lovegreen, Ginnie ThomasShannon Hinrichs, Katie Maynard.

Short-term Goals:

  • Make a commitment to well building and indoor air quality standards. 
  • Develop a communication campaign to raise awareness of critical environmental health issues such as air quality, noise, lighting, outdoor emissions from idling vehicles, etc.
  • Increase access to and use of hydration stations.
  • Assess bicycle, skateboard and pedestrian networks for areas of the highest risk. Reduce skateboard and pedestrian collisions. 
  • Survey staff and faculty to find out what times they would like to see workshops/programming.  Make sure to include staff that work at shifts other than 8am-5pm and/or do not take their lunch from 12-1.
  • Expand use of hand sanitizer on campus.  Find out which departments may be willing to pay for hand sanitizer refills on an ongoing basis.
  • Expand the Food, Nutrition and Basic Skills program to Staff and Faculty.
  • Develop programs based in departments that can be used for team building activities as well as health and fitness.
  • Expand healthy options in campus vending machines and help implement the statewide vending machine policy at UCSB.
  • Document food policies, discuss in mixed audience focus groups.
  • Label foods in UCen dining franchises with composite index score.

Mid Term Goals:

  • Develop a report on current indoor air quality.
  • Work with Environmental Health & Safety to address indoor air quality issues identified in short term goals.
  • Increase pedestrian and bicycle safety.
  • Increase accessibility of wellness resources to people of all abilities.
  • Look for ways to continue the Take the Stairs Campaign for faculty and staff.
  • Apply for a TGIF grant to support new bike lockers on campus.
  • Expand capacity of the Wellness and Fitness Institute.
  • Offer weight management courses on campus.
  • Expand noon ball and other intramural activities for staff and faculty.
  • Offer more beginner level fitness programs specific to staff and faculty.
  • Offer more workshops that are located where staff work.
  • Identify stakeholders on campus to develop a flu vaccine campaign and research other successful campaigns at peer institutions.

Long-term Goals:

  • Work with Planning to ensure Well Building standards and UC Ergonomic Workgroup new building and remodel standards are a standard part of new construction and remodels.
  • Expand Bike Share pilot to Goleta and surrounding areas.
  • Expand bike parking requirements in new construction policies.
  • Raise funding for expanded recreational facilities.
  • Raise funding for expanding wellness programming for staff and faculty.
  • Employees interested in doing so, will have personal health tracking devices and will use these in peer to peer, motivational programming.

Visionary Goals:

  • TBD

Members:

  • Shannon Hinrichs, Campus Environmental Health Specialist, Environmental Health & Safety (Co-Chair)
  • Mo Lovegreen, Executive Officer/Director, Campus Sustainability, Sustainability (Co-Chair)
  • Katie Maynard, Sustainability Coordinator (Co-Chair)
  • Ginnie Thomas, Health Advocate, Housing, Dining, and Auxiliary Enterprises (Co-Chair)
  • Michelle Leachman, Gaucho Rec Coordinator
  • Brenda Lear, Assistant Director for Fitness, Wellness + Special Programs, Recreation
  • Michael Takahara, Health & Wellness Educator, Health & Wellness Program 
  • Adilenne Tello