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On September 21, 2015, the ɫ����Ƶ(ɫ����Ƶ) joined 37 other colleges and universities, and is the first university in Maine, to become part of the The Healthier Campus Initiative partners with colleges and universities across the U.S. to promote campus wellness through the adoption of 23 evidence-based guidelines in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and health programming. 

“ɫ����Ƶ’s Wellness Committee, comprising faculty, students and staff, is excited to join this national partnership,” said Dora Anne Mills, M.D., M.P.H., chair of ɫ����Ƶ’s Wellness Committee and vice president for Clinical Affairs. “As a health and sciences university grounded in the liberal arts, with two beautiful campuses in Biddeford and Portland, Maine, ɫ����Ƶ has already adopted many of PHA’s recommendations; our committee felt this was a great opportunity for us to make further improvements, and to contribute to and learn from this national effort.” 

Over the next three years, ɫ����Ƶ will either implement new or maintain existing health promotion efforts to encourage healthier choices for its nearly 10,000 enrolled students, more than 1,100 faculty and staff, and thousands of annual visitors. ɫ����Ƶ will demonstrate its commitment to wellness through the assurance that healthy food and beverage options are served in all seven of its campus eating establishments, vending machines and catering services; its campuses are safe for bicyclists and pedestrians; and university programming supports wellness-related practices.

“We are excited to be part of this national effort to promote health and wellness on college campuses, and are thrilled that Sodexo, ɫ����Ƶ’s food service provider, is a national PHA partner as well,” said Becca Boulos, M.P.H., Ph.D., Wellness Committee member and assistant professor who led this effort.

With more than 150 private sector partners, PHA is dedicated to making healthier choices easier for busy families and kids. The Healthier Campus Initiative adds to PHA’s portfolio by recognizing the critical role that colleges play in supporting the development of healthful habits. 

“Colleges and universities are in a unique position to help shape tomorrow’s leaders, whether they are teachers, coaches, policymakers, CEOs, moms or dads,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “We know that going to college is a time of change for many students—we also know that means it’s a time when new habits are formed. By creating healthier food and physical activity environments today, campuses and universities are encouraging healthier habits that will carry over into tomorrow.”