Northwestern-Enid, Alva to receive certificates for healthy campuses, business

Two Northwestern Oklahoma State University locations will be receiving certifications from the Certified Healthy Campus.

On March 1, Northwestern-Enid will be recognized with a Certificate of Merit at the awards ceremony in Norman. Northwestern-Alva and the J.R. Holder Wellness Center will receive the Certificate of Excellence for being a healthy campus and as a business.

Certified Healthy Campus recognizes campus sites that make a positive impact on the health of employees and patrons.

The Certified Healthy Oklahoma Program is a free, voluntary statewide certification. The certification showcases businesses, campuses, communities, congregations, early childhood programs, restaurants and schools that are committed to supporting healthy choices through environmental and policy change. These entities are working to improve the health of Oklahomans by implementing elements, policies and programs that will help Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free.

The Certified Healthy Oklahoma Program began in 2003 as a collaborative initiative with four founding partners: the Oklahoma Turning Point Council, the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, the Oklahoma State Chamber and the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

There are three levels of certification: basic, merit and excellence. The campus application consists of eight standards: integration with the learning mission of higher education; collaborative practice; cultural competence; tobacco, drug, alcohol and mental health issues; health, wellness, safety; and professional development/continuing education.

Certified Healthy Campus is through the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Center for the Advancement of Wellness, and a branch of the Certified Healthy Oklahoma Programs.

For more information on Northwestern-Enid, contact Office of Student Services at 580-213-3147. For more information on Northwestern-Alva contact Office of Student Services at 580-327-8414.

For more information about overall health wellness or events and exercise schedules at the wellness center “Like” the page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JRHolderWellnessCenter. For questions contact Richard Burdick, director of the J.R. Holder Wellness Center, at 580-327-8109 or rpburdick@nwosu.edu or Catherine Engelken, assistant director, at 580-327-8105 or cgkelly@nwosu.edu.