Oct. 12, 2006

New MC wellness program
Faculty are encouraged to get fit
By John Paul Sekulich
jps001@marietta.edu
With startling statistics on how the majority of Americans are overweight, Marietta College decided that it was time to take this problem into their own hands.

As part of an effort to enhance to quality of life for employees and their families, Marietta College has launched an Employee Wellness Program to “create a culture and environment that supports and encourages healthy lifestyles.”

Program coordinators are pleased to have achieved the goal of at least 50% of College employees actively participating in wellness programming.

Employees who participate in the Wellness Program receive free Health Risk Assessments and earn incentives valued at $100. Hopefully, participants will also feel reduced stress levels, lose weight and avoid serious health problems such as heart attacks, cancer and diabetes. While the College anticipates a healthier and happier workforce, the Wellness Program is part of an effort to defray the rising cost of providing health care for employees and their families.

Wellness programmers have attempted to schedule fitness activities and educational opportunities around the common lunch hour of noon to 1:00pm. In addition, fitness classes are offered in the mornings and the evenings. The traditional modes of improving fitness are complimented by external programs such as smoking cessation and Weight Watchers at Work.
By participating in the Wellness Program, employees earn “Make it Count” (MC) points towards wellness incentives. For every 30 minutes in an aerobic or strength-training activity or educational program, one MC point is earned. All employees who earn 120 MC points between September 1, 2006 and April 30, 2007 will receive a wellness incentive, which may include $100 deposited to a medical reimbursement account or a $100 certificate to a day spa. By offering incentives, employees will learn to stick with a health and fitness plan and develop self-directed methods.

Karen Glowacki, the Head Women's Crew Coach and Personal Trainer, explains that the programming “is a broad-based effort to encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It addresses physical, nutritional and psychological aspects of wellness.”
She also comments that participation has been terrific.

“The attendance at the first few lunch-time seminars were so large that they needed to be moved to larger rooms, which is a good problem to have!”

One of the most popular ways that employees can earn MC points is at Faculty/Staff Volleyball games, which happen every Monday night at 7:30.

For every 30 minutes of playing volleyball, the faculty and staff each earn one MC point. Not only are the faculty and staff rewarded for their participation in these games, but they are also quite entertaining for everyone to play and watch.