Physical activity has been largely engineered out of the built
environment and, as a result, 70 percent of Americans do not
achieve the U.S. Surgeon General's modest recommendation for daily physical activity. In response, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has promoted the national Active Living by Design initiative, which establishes innovative approaches to increase physical activity through community design, public policies, and communications strategies. This year's theme for National Public Health Week is designing health communities. Ocean County College this year will be receiving a President's award from the New Jersey Public Health Association for their efforts to create a healthy college community.
OCC Presents Two Scientific Posters at the Medical School
Public Health Symposium
Dr. Jim Brown, Dean of Health Sciences and Human Performance, presented two scientific posters at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway NJ. The theme of the 11th Annual Public Health Symposium was "Partners in designing healthy communities" which was attended by approximately 300 public health practitioners, physicians, nurses, and state officials. This conference has historically been the premiere event for national public health week in New Jersey.
OCC
faculty and staff including Dr. Jon Larson co-authored
"Best
Practices in Developing a Healthy College Community:
Achieving a Smoke Free Campus" and "Best
Practices in Developing a Healthy College Community:
Exercise for Health." Both posters generated
a great deal of interest and OCC was distinguished
by being the only community college represented in
a sea of posters from the state's top colleges and
universities.
In keeping with the Active Living by Design, Ocean County College is demonstrating how changing community design will impact physical activity. The faculty of the Health and Human Performance have done the following to support National Public Health Week 2006 and the Active Living by Design initiative:
Equipped
a brand new Fitness Room
The faculty used the royalties from a published text book to fund and refurbish all of the equipment in the new OCC Fitness Room.
A Walk to Health
In keeping with this year's theme for the National
Public Health Week "Designing
Healthy Communities," the faculty of the
Health and Human Performance Program urge the entire
college community to take "A
Walk to Health." Walking is the one exercise
that is safe enough for people of any age or medical
condition to try. It needs no special equipment and
you don't even have to set any time aside for it.
The nature
trails surrounding our own OCC campus is a perfect
place to begin "A Walk to Health ."
A Smoke Free Campus
Ocean
County College has become the first college campus
in New Jersey to go smoke free. Smoking had been previously
banned in the buildings. However, students, faculty
and staff would congregate around the building exits
and smoke there. A ground swell of support among the
majority of the students, faculty and staff created
petitions and asked the OCC Board of Trustees to completely
ban smoking on the OCC campus. Smoking has now been
pushed out to the parking lots and is not allowed
on campus. An active smoking cessation program was
developed to encourage and support the smokers as
they tried to quit smoking.
No Smoking Policy >>
Changing Student Behavior
through Education
The courses offered by the Health and Human Performance Program go beyond education to impact the lives of the students taking the course. Students are encouraged to alter their behaviors to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Featured courses for National Public Health Week
HEHP 150 Swimming I 1 s.h.
HEHP 151 Swimming II 1 s.h.
HEHP 210 Karate I 2 s.h.
HEHP 211 Karate
II 2 s.h.
HEHP 102 Volleyball 1 s.h.
HEHP 225 Contemporary Health 3 s.h.
What students say about these courses:
This
course opened my eyes to nutrition as well as taking
care of my body. It truly helped me to stop smoking
as much; I have not bought a pack of cigarettes in
a month.
This was my first course at OCC. It changed my life. I never took care of my body before. I will now! I highly recommend this course.
This was a great course that encourages students to make healthy, educated decisions in life.
A Walk to Health >>
Benefits of Walking >>
Map of the Nature Trails >>
Links to the National Public Health
Week
APHA National Public Health Week >>
NJPHA National Public Health Week >>
11th Annual Public Health Symposium >>
