MSU Earns Exercise is Medicine® Gold-Level Recognition for Eighth Year in a Row
June 27, 2023
East Lansing, Mich., June 27, 2023— Michigan State University is one of only 73 universities and colleges around the world to earn gold-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine® program for its efforts to create a culture of health and well-being on campus.
This is the eighth year in a row that MSU’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program has earned the gold designation.
To earn gold, schools must have a referral system in place between health care providers and certified fitness professionals as part of medical treatment; education initiatives that engage students, faculty and staff; encourage movement as part of the daily campus culture; and promote awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.
Fitness and Wellness Program Coordinator Kristin Traskie, who also serves on the EIM-OC leadership team, noted that the program is dedicated to creating a campus culture that focuses on the well-being of all MSU community members.
“The EIM-OC Initiative is an evidence-based best practice that enhances our campus environment,” said Traskie. “I’m proud to work with campus partners and student leaders who are across the university for policies and environmental changes that promote movement and continue to improve health and wellbeing for all Spartans.”
The MSU EIM-OC program at MSU began in 2014 and has grown to offer programs and services to students, faculty and staff like the open-access guided exercise video library, the annual Healthy Homecoming Walk, a speaker series, the ACTIVE Spartans Physical Activity Mentor program, a registered student organization and more. The Department of Kinesiology and the Health Promotion department within University Health and Wellbeing lead the program.
Kristin Joyce, nurse administrator in the Campus Health Services (formerly Student Health Services) unit at MSU said earning the gold designation signifies the university’s commitment to sustainable health.
“Being active is so important for an individual’s overall health, now and for the future as well,” said Joyce. “This award is a reflection of our university’s investments not only in the academic needs of the students, faculty and staff but the physical well-being too.”
Megan Fairchild serves as the vice president of MSU’s EIM-OC registered student organization and said physical activity plays an important role in supporting mental health, too.
"We are ecstatic that for the past eight years, our campus community has joined us to de-stress at physical activity break events during finals, walk laps at the annual Healthy Homecoming Walk and advocate for changes in our campus facilities and green spaces,” said Fairchild. “Many of us have used exercise as a self-care tool, and it has also brought us a sense of community when working out with peers.”
Of the 149 campuses recognized this year, 73 received gold, 55 silver and 21 bronze. All gold, silver and bronze universities and colleges were recognized on June 1 as part of the 2023 Exercise is Medicine World Congress, held in conjunction with the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting.
EIM-OC calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health and encourages faculty, staff and students to work together to improve the health and well-being of the campus community.
For more information on the MSU EIM-OC program, visit healthpromotion.msu.edu/fitness.
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Media Contact
Kristin Traskie, Fitness and Wellness Program Coordinator
University Health and Wellbeing
traskiek@msu.edu