2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty program encourages wellness
Lionel Njeukam
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Workplace Wellness program was created by Dr. Mosher, a former faculty member, to meet the health needs of the faculty and staff at UTC.
According to Greg Heath, head of the department of health and human performance, the origin of this program dates back to the 1970s, when people started promoting health in American universities.
The center plays a twofold role, Carol Oglesby, the coordinator of the program, said. One, it is an academic program and a learning laboratory program, and second, it is a fitness program for UTC faculty and staff. Students can practice what they have learned in their science classes, and alumni are allowed to come and participate also, she said. There is also a yoga class associated with the Workplace Wellness program.
Oglesby said the fee to join is $15 per month for exempt employees and $5 per month for the non-exempt employees. She said the money for fees goes to things like equipment and towels. The program also has updated instruments, such as new cardio-equipment, weight-resistance equipment and weight-transmission equipment.
"The money is also used to sponsor graduate assistance," she said.
Heath said, "There are few fitness facilities in Chattanooga in which there is no member who were not in the [Workplace Wellness program] before."
There are several advantages for students on one hand, and for the faculty and staff on the other hand.
Heath gave two examples: "[The program has both] supervision and safety, in case you may misuse the equipment, and motivation since some people are paying for a service." Oglesby said, "Some people are not comfortable to make their own program." She also said the program helps people to practice a sport or sports regularly, with a certain discipline.
According to Oglesby, the Workplace Wellness program has a participation rate of 15 percent, which is between 150 and 170 clients. She said the participation rate is obviously low compared to the number of faculty and staff at the university.
Heath said, "We would like to see 100 percent of the faculty participate in a program, and we don't care in what program it is."
Will Cote, an exchange student and English major, said: "I think all the faculty have to do it. It sounds [like] a good program. But they should do it for free."
According to Greg Heath, head of the department of health and human performance, the origin of this program dates back to the 1970s, when people started promoting health in American universities.
The center plays a twofold role, Carol Oglesby, the coordinator of the program, said. One, it is an academic program and a learning laboratory program, and second, it is a fitness program for UTC faculty and staff. Students can practice what they have learned in their science classes, and alumni are allowed to come and participate also, she said. There is also a yoga class associated with the Workplace Wellness program.
Oglesby said the fee to join is $15 per month for exempt employees and $5 per month for the non-exempt employees. She said the money for fees goes to things like equipment and towels. The program also has updated instruments, such as new cardio-equipment, weight-resistance equipment and weight-transmission equipment.
"The money is also used to sponsor graduate assistance," she said.
Heath said, "There are few fitness facilities in Chattanooga in which there is no member who were not in the [Workplace Wellness program] before."
There are several advantages for students on one hand, and for the faculty and staff on the other hand.
Heath gave two examples: "[The program has both] supervision and safety, in case you may misuse the equipment, and motivation since some people are paying for a service." Oglesby said, "Some people are not comfortable to make their own program." She also said the program helps people to practice a sport or sports regularly, with a certain discipline.
According to Oglesby, the Workplace Wellness program has a participation rate of 15 percent, which is between 150 and 170 clients. She said the participation rate is obviously low compared to the number of faculty and staff at the university.
Heath said, "We would like to see 100 percent of the faculty participate in a program, and we don't care in what program it is."
Will Cote, an exchange student and English major, said: "I think all the faculty have to do it. It sounds [like] a good program. But they should do it for free."
