Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

SU Achieves American Heart Association Gold as a Fit-Friendly Worksite

Thursday, February 4, 2016, By News Staff
Share

AHA logoFor the first time, Syracuse University has been recognized by the American Heart Association with its Gold Achievement award for the University’s efforts to support employee heart health and be a Fit-Friendly Worksite.

“This is recognition that the University is investing in the well-being of its employees and creating a culture of health and wellness, really making an impact and transforming people’s lives on campus and in our community,” says the American Heart Association’s Denise McGraw.

Syracuse University joins 42 Central New York organizations representing more than 52,000 employees—and 2,004 organizations with more than 5.3 million employees nationwide—on the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Worksites Honor Roll.

A key factor leading to this national recognition is the University’s commitment to being a tobacco-free campus, established last year by the adoption of a tobacco-free policy on July 1, 2015. “That had to happen before Syracuse University could even be considered for the gold designation,” McGraw says.

Other factors were the large number and variety of health and wellness programs sponsored by the University’s Wellness Initiative, Recreation Services and Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, among others, such as Healthy Monday, Walktober, the Monday Mile, free fitness and tobacco-cessation classes, and the Mindful Eating and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes.

“Syracuse University strives to support a culture of health and wellness by implementing policies and practices that create healthy environments and offer opportunities for enhancing health and well-being,” says Gail Grozalis, executive director of wellness for faculty and staff. “The implementation of the Tobacco-Free Campus is only one facet of the University’s commitment to a healthy campus community. The many wellness and work-life programs, services and resources available to faculty and staff enrich quality of life and help individuals optimize both personal and professional satisfaction and performance.”

Faculty and staff can check out what the Wellness Initiative has on tap for spring, learn more about MBSR, free blood pressure clinics and healthy eating, and explore what Carebridge brings to the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) on the Wellness Initiative website.

Joseph Lore, director of recreation services at Syracuse University, sees the American Heart Association award as proof that the University is doing something right when it comes to the health and fitness of its workforce.

“This designation acknowledges our goal in providing the campus community with many resources to live healthy and active lives,” Lore says. He encourages faculty and staff to explore what Recreation Services can provide.

“The University workforce is offered unique opportunities to participate in diverse programs and services, ranging from fitness centers, group classes and personal training to ice skating, adventure trips and intramural sports, plus team-building and other personal and staff development activities,” Lore says.

Leah Moser, who coordinates the Healthy Monday programs for the Lerner Center, said the University community is fortunate to have not only strong institutional support for health and wellness, but a diverse array of programs, initiatives and activities that offer individuals opportunities to enhance personal well-being on their own terms.

“At the Lerner Center, we recognize that wellness means many things, so with the Healthy Monday initiative we work with our campus partners to offer a variety of free programs for all members of our campus community,” Moser says. “From healthy dining options, free fitness classes and Monday Mile walking routes, to a weekly meditation and more, we support employees on the path to achieving good health.”

“We love that Syracuse University is focused on the health of the campus community, and we hope to partner with them in more and more ways going forward,” says the Heart Association’s Denise McGraw, director of the annual Syracuse Heart Walk, which is Saturday, April 2, this year and typically includes a strong showing by Syracuse University teams.

To participate in the 2016 Heart Walk, you can sign up as an individual, create a team, or support a participant by visiting the Syracuse Heart Walk Registration website.

The University will show its support for the Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign and National Wear Red Day by lighting the Hall of Languages in red on the evenings of Thursday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 5. February is American Heart Month.

 

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Orange! Faculty and Staff at the Syracuse WorkForce Run (Gallery)
    Thursday, June 12, 2025, By News Staff
  • Oren Lyons Jr., Roy Simmons Jr. Honored With Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award
    Wednesday, June 11, 2025, By John Boccacino
  • Deadline Set for Fiscal 2025 Year End Business
    Monday, June 9, 2025, By News Staff
  • The Libraries’ Resources: A Staff and Faculty Benefit
    Monday, June 9, 2025, By News Staff
  • Forecasting the Future With Fossils
    Sunday, June 8, 2025, By Caroline K. Reff

More In Campus & Community

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Orange! Faculty and Staff at the Syracuse WorkForce Run (Gallery)

The Syracuse WorkForce Run was held at Onondaga Lake Parkway Tuesday, bringing together workers from across Central New York for a night of food, fun, fitness and friendly competition among area employers. This year’s event, which raised funds for Ronald…

Oren Lyons Jr., Roy Simmons Jr. Honored With Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award

Oren Lyons Jr. ’58, H’93 and Roy Simmons Jr. ’59, H’14 formed a lifelong friendship that stems from their days starring for the Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team from 1955-58. Recently, Lyons and Simmons were honored with the Alfie Jacques…

McDonald Assumes New Role as Associate Vice President for Research

Katherine McDonald, professor of public health and senior associate dean for research and administration in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, will join Syracuse University’s Office of Research in a new role as associate vice president…

7 New Representatives Added to the Board of Trustees

Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed Dean Mark Lodato of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as academic dean representative to the Board of Trustees. In addition, Andrea Rose Persin, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration in the College…

Deadline Set for Fiscal 2025 Year End Business

Cash Operations has set a deadline of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025, to receive deposits at the Bowne Cash Operations office for credit in fiscal year 2025. Deposits should be made as early in the day as possible…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.