Oklahoma State University Striving to be America's Healthiest Campus

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Seretean Wellness Center’s programs promote healthy living

(STILLWATER, Okla.  Oct. 21, 2009)  – The Seretean Wellness Center at Oklahoma State University has developed new interactive wellness programs and services designed to help OSU achieve its goal to become the healthiest campus in America.

“Cowboys on the Move,” “Wellness Wednesdays” and “Breathe Easy” are new programs offered to students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“OSU has always been a leader in education and I’m proud the Seretean Wellness Center is continuing the tradition with first-of-its-kind programs designed to make OSU the healthiest campus in America,” OSU President Burns Hargis said. “We are one of the first campuses to initiate such an extensive and interactive wellness program, and by doing so we are showing others how to develop and sustain a healthier campus. Plus, we are fulfilling the wishes and challenge set forth by our late benefactor and role model, Dr. MB “Bud” Seretean, a 1949 graduate of OSU, and a champion of health and wellness.”

President Hargis and his wife Ann both participate in Cowboys on the Move and other Seretean Wellness Center programs. Mrs. Hargis teaches a weekly yoga class for OSU faculty and staff.                   

“'Cowboys on the Move is a program to get people moving… one person, one minute, and one activity at a time…allowing people to create their own personal account to track activity minutes,” Robin Purdie, Director of Seretean Wellness Center, said. A new Web site version has been launched and will help participants track their minutes of activity and convert those minutes into calories burned. So far, OSU employees have logged almost two million minutes of activity in less than one year.

“Wellness Wednesday” is another program designed to help OSU faculty and staff live healthier lifestyles. The Seretean Wellness Center offers a free lunch program the third Wednesday of each month. A variety of current health and wellness topics are presented to OSU faculty and staff. A heart healthy lunch is provided by the Seretean Wellness Center.  The program is free but pre-registration is required.

The “Breathe Easy” program began in July 2008 when the OSU-Stillwater campus went tobacco-free in order to promote the health, well-being and safety of all OSU students, faculty, staff and visitors. The Seretean Wellness Center offers several free programs to help students, faculty and staff members eliminate their need and dependence on tobacco.

Seretean Wellness Center’s mission is to help people achieve a balance of physical and mental health. The Center has 21 full-time employees, graduate assistants, interns and part-time student employees. The center houses the O-Zone Fitness Center, Employee Health Clinic and a demonstration kitchen. For more information about the Seretean Wellness Center and its programs designed to make OSU America’s healthiest campus, contact Mary Talley, Program Manager, at 405-744-6907 or mary.talley@okstate.edu.