Grand Valley State University
PA-11: Wellness Program

Benefits: GVSU's Personalized Benefits Program for employees is a cafeteria-style plan model that allows employees to customize their benefits program to best fit their individual medical, dental and vision needs, yet still serve the university's large and diverse work force. Wellness: GVSU's wellness mission is to be the healthiest campus in Michigan. We take pride in offering our employees a variety of options to help in their physical and emotional health and well-being. We encourage them to be active throughout the day, to eat more nutritious foods, and make healthier lifestyle choices. Instilling a healthy mindset will not only reap benefits in the lives of our employees, but also in the lives of their families as well as the student body. Healthy employees means less sick time away from work and fewer doctors visits, resulting in better control of the rising cost of health care. Work Life: Work Life is simply a connection between your work and your life. GVSU's Work Life program provides information, resources, support and referrals on most any concern that employees experience, whether personal or work related. GVSU supports the theories of wellness, work life and benefits additionally by providing benefit eligible faculty and staff a $300 monetary incentive for participation in the Healthy Choices wellness program. We achieved a 40% participation rate in 2013. For students, GVSU offers a wide variety of wellness programs including nutrition services, smoking cessation services, fitness programs, and a free "u-fit program" for students that will assist individuals in discussing their wellness goals, current health, fitness, nutrition and lifestyle status. More details can be found at http://www.gvsu.edu/rec/fitness-wellness-center-85.htm.