2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty members get shot at health benefits
By: Don Lail
Issue date: 1/22/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Healthy Purdue program is funded by staff benefits. It is a system-wide program, including all Purdue campuses, allowing faculty members to participate in wellness programs for free and reduced rates.
Same-sex domestic partners have been included in the benefits plan for several years now.
The newly expanded staff program will benefit students by offering fitness classes (i.e. Tai Chi, Yoga, Step, etc.) at a reduced price this semester. Other activities for faculty include classes and seminars on health-related topics, Weight Watchers @ Work at a reduced price, online classes, health coaching and incentive programs to help them make healthier lifestyle choices.
Benefits-eligible staff and their significant others are encouraged to take part in the on-campus screening program by the Wellness Center. The Healthy Purdue initiative begins with a blood test. The test includes a lipid panel, cholesterol panel and blood count as well as height, weight and blood pressure.
They can then complete the Health Path Questionnaire, a lifestyle questionnaire which gives them feedback on what they are doing right for their health and what could be improved.
Depending on these results, they are offered an opportunity to participate in the health coaching program. If they complete both the screening and the HPQ they receive a cash incentive and are then eligible to participate in the next phase which begins this year.
If they participate in five different wellness programs/activities during the 2007 calendar year, they are eligible for an additional incentive. This is the part driving the expansion of programs and services on the campus. The purpose of this program is to protect the health and productivity of Purdue's employees, contain rising health care costs and lead the way in employee health research and education.
"Students have a wellness program but it is very different from the staff program," said Lowry.
The student program is more education-based than the new staff program. The Wellness Center is hosting events such as the health fair, blood drives, Safe Spring Break Week and Great American Smokeout as well as other activities co-sponsored by other departments and student groups on campus.
Lowry advises students to check out the new fitness classes open to staff and students. Classes cost $10 and last for six weeks.
"We have had record-breaking attendance the past few years, so we began to offer two-day drives instead of one-day as in the past," said Lowry.
Same-sex domestic partners have been included in the benefits plan for several years now.
The newly expanded staff program will benefit students by offering fitness classes (i.e. Tai Chi, Yoga, Step, etc.) at a reduced price this semester. Other activities for faculty include classes and seminars on health-related topics, Weight Watchers @ Work at a reduced price, online classes, health coaching and incentive programs to help them make healthier lifestyle choices.
Benefits-eligible staff and their significant others are encouraged to take part in the on-campus screening program by the Wellness Center. The Healthy Purdue initiative begins with a blood test. The test includes a lipid panel, cholesterol panel and blood count as well as height, weight and blood pressure.
They can then complete the Health Path Questionnaire, a lifestyle questionnaire which gives them feedback on what they are doing right for their health and what could be improved.
Depending on these results, they are offered an opportunity to participate in the health coaching program. If they complete both the screening and the HPQ they receive a cash incentive and are then eligible to participate in the next phase which begins this year.
If they participate in five different wellness programs/activities during the 2007 calendar year, they are eligible for an additional incentive. This is the part driving the expansion of programs and services on the campus. The purpose of this program is to protect the health and productivity of Purdue's employees, contain rising health care costs and lead the way in employee health research and education.
"Students have a wellness program but it is very different from the staff program," said Lowry.
The student program is more education-based than the new staff program. The Wellness Center is hosting events such as the health fair, blood drives, Safe Spring Break Week and Great American Smokeout as well as other activities co-sponsored by other departments and student groups on campus.
Lowry advises students to check out the new fitness classes open to staff and students. Classes cost $10 and last for six weeks.
"We have had record-breaking attendance the past few years, so we began to offer two-day drives instead of one-day as in the past," said Lowry.
Be the first to comment on this story