Wellness Champions 2023

"The MUS Wellness Departmental Awards Program recognizes departments within the Montana University System that actively promote a healthy work environment for employees.

To earn a Departmental Wellness Award, a department must apply for the recognition and meet a certain number of criteria within three separate categories: Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Culture. The criteria are presented as a menu of choices, to allow departments ﬂexibility in how they choose to promote wellness. Departments must also provide a brief written statement describing why the department deserves recognition, and submit a photograph of a department wellness initiative or event.

Award levels consist of Copper, Silver, and Gold, and are awarded on a ﬁscal year basis. Departments may apply any time, before May 15th for an award in the current ﬁscal year. Award recipients will receive a plaque for the department, recognition on the MUS Wellness website and Montana Moves & Meals Blog, and a special swag item for individuals in the department.

To earn a Department Recognition Award, a department must meet the minimum number of criteria in all three categories (Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Culture), according to the chart below. Departments may select the criteria within each category to implement from the menu provided:

Level	Physical Activity Criteria Achieved	Nutrition Criteria Achieved	Culture Criteria Achieved
Copper	2	3	7
Silver	3	4	9
Gold	4	5	11

Name:

Email Address:

Campus Mailing Address:

Name of Department:

Number of employees in Department:

Physical Activity: To earn a Copper level award, department must meet 2 of the Physical Activity criteria below; for a Silver level award, department must meet 3 of the criteria, and for a Gold level award, department must meet 4 of the criteria (check all that apply)

Designated stretching or wellness space is available to all department employees.
Signs (minimum of 3) are posted in the building/department that encourage employees to take the stairs.
More than 80% of department employees have completed an Ergonomic Self-Assessment such as the one found here: Ergonomics
Group exercise/walks occur on a regular basis (at least 2x/month)
Department adheres to Healthy Meetings physical activity guidelines whenever possible. See Healthy Meeting Criteria
Take a Wellness Lab Exercise course together as a group.

Nutrition: To earn a Copper level award, department must meet 3 of the Nutrition criteria below; for a Silver level award, department must meet 4 of the criteria, and for a Gold level award, department must meet 5 of the criteria. (Check all that apply)

Candy dishes not displayed on desks (or do not exist).
Sweet treats for common areas limited to once per month.
Department adheres to Healthy Meetings nutrition guidelines. See Healthy Meetings nutrition guidelines form.
If vending machines are available in the building, healthier choices are labeled. Healthier choices are defined as < 200 calories/serving, <230mg sodium/serving, <30g total sugar per 8 oz dairy serving, <10g total sugar per serving of grains, Zero trans fat, <10% of calories from saturated fat (excludes nuts & seeds). Vending criteria adapted from https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/guide-smartsnacks-school
>30% of vending choices meet healthier choices criteria. See Award Strategies and Suggestions for healthier choice options Departmental Awards Strategies
Refrigerator and/or food prep area available to department employees.
Filtered water and/or water cooler available to department employees.
Take the Wellness Lab Cooking and Kitchen Techniques course together as a group.

Breifly describe why your department deserves recognition from MUS Wellness. Consider including the following information in your written statement: How long has your department been committed to making wellness-related improvements in the workplace? What initiatives or events, if any does your department promote? How have department management/supervisors shown particular support of wellness and a culture of health in the workplace?

Email Wellness@montana.edu with a picture of a department wellness initiative or event. Subject line: Departmental Award Photos. Note if faces are recognizable please obtain written consent for picture to be used by MUS Wellness. See photo release here: https://wellness.mus.edu/Departmental_Awards.html