UCO Named Certified Healthy Campus for Ninth Consecutive Year

April 28, 2021

Media Contact: Sarah Ward, Communications and Marketing Coordinator, UCO University Communications, 405-974-2106, sward24@uco.edu

UCO Named Certified Healthy Campus for Ninth Consecutive Year

The University of Central Oklahoma has once again maintained its status as a Certified Healthy Campus for the ninth consecutive year, recognizing the university's efforts to promote health and wellness among its students, faculty and staff.

A part of the "Shape Your Future" campaign driven by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Central was awarded the highest level of certification, garnering the excellence designation. The program recognizes public and private campuses and career technology centers that make a positive impact on the health of their communities.

As a part of Central's Healthy Campus Initiative, students, faculty and staff work together to lead several efforts to encourage the campus community in health and wellness. UCO Health Promotion serves as the initiative's hub, offering free suicide prevention training, substance and alcohol abuse prevention education, well-being programs and more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of taking care of our total wellness so that we can continue to show up and be our best," said Carlie Deatherage, assistant director of health promotion and co-chairperson of Healthy Campus.

"I am proud of the work that the Healthy Campus initiative has continued to do throughout the pandemic and that UCO kept holistic health as a priority for students, staff and faculty."

Central also strives for student success mentally, emotionally and physically both in the classroom and out by providing services such as the UCO Center for Counseling and Well-Being with free individual therapy appointments, group counseling and Calm Central, UCO's stress reduction room. The Wellness Center offers intramurals, sport clubs, adventure programs and Oklahoma Project WILD. Activities extend to the university's Center for Outdoor Adventure Recreation located on Lake Arcadia, which houses the university's fleet of kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and mountain bikes for both rentals and one-on-one or group instruction.

Central is also one of only two universities in the nation designated as an Olympic and Paralympic training site, hosting the national Men's and Women's Sitting Volleyball teams along with athletes training in Paralympic archery, powerlifting, track and field, and the Olympic sport of taekwondo.

For more information on the "Shape Your Future" campaign and Certified Healthy Oklahoma, visit www.certifiedhealthyok.com. For more information on Central's health and wellness programs, visit www.ucowellnesscenter.com and www.uco.edu/healthyhooves.

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Editor's Note: Download art associated with this release at https://media.uco.edu/press/uploads/2021/04/1dg6313.jpg

Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma has once again maintained its status as a Certified Healthy Campus for the ninth consecutive year, recognizing the university's efforts to promote health and wellness among its students, faculty and staff. A part of the "Shape Your Future" campaign driven by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Central was awarded the highest level of certification, garnering the excellence designation. Pictured, a UCO student participating in goat yoga.