RIT Earns Corporate Wellness Distinction
University wellness initiatives recognized at corporate luncheon
Rochester Institute of Technology wins 2011 Wealth of Health awards
Rochester Institute of Technology is among 12 corporate winners of the 2011 Wealth of Health awards. RIT joins Coopervision Inc. and Eastman Kodak Co. for recognition in the 2,000 employees and up corporate category.
Winners were selected based on their efforts to encourage and support wellness among their employees. Now in its sixth year, the Wealth of Health awards program honors employers that foster a healthy workplace through a mix of programs and policies. It is co-sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Rochester Business Journal. Honorees were judged based on the creativity of their initiatives, active participation, ability to measure improvements, sustainability and program results.
“RIT is a true leader when it comes to workplace wellness,” says Renee Brownstein, RIT associate director for human resources. “We look at health and wellness from a holistic perspective and it is our goal to provide as many resources as possible that can positively impact our employees’ lifestyles. It’s exciting to witness the culture of RIT shifting in regards to campus wellness including noticeable changes in dining halls, cafeterias and catering, as well the creation of the campus’ Farmers Market and Community Garden. None of this would be possible without the strong support of the university’s senior leadership.”
RIT’s “umbrella of wellness” includes wellness coaching as the cornerstone to help employees develop their own personal wellness plan and adopt healthier lifestyles. On-site wellness coaches are available to all employees free of charge as an effort to provide the skills to make permanent behavior changes. More than 40 fitness classes are also offered each quarter. Other non-traditional wellness offerings include gardening for wellness, smoking cessation classes through the Student Health Center, personal training, nutritional counseling and chair massages.
Award results were listed in the April 15 edition of Rochester Business Journal.
Recommended News
-
November 22, 2024
![a group of six students and adults stand in front of a sign bearing logos from R I T and other companies.]()
RIT expands research on circular economy in Southeast Asia with new funding boost
A $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of State will continue the work led by professors Clyde Hull and Eric Williams with entrepreneurships based on circular economy principles in member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
-
November 21, 2024
![Various people put their hands together in a circle.]()
Americans agree more than they might think − not knowing this jeopardizes the nation’s shared values
An essay written by Lawrence Torcello, associate professor in the Department of Philosophy, published by The Conversation.
-
November 21, 2024
![an illustrated image of a pixelated face appears next to the words real or fake.]()
Detecting digital deception
Today, artificial intelligence is being used to manipulate media. At RIT, a team of student and faculty researchers is leading the charge to help journalists and intelligence analysts figure out what is real and what is fake. Their work has more than $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and Knight Foundation.
-
November 21, 2024
![two men sit at a table looking at a laptop. A third man leans over the table to look at the laptops screen.]()
In and out of Africa
Africa is rich in natural resources and contains one of the most diverse ecosystems across the globe. The Sahara Desert itself is larger than the continental United States. With all the unique landscapes, wildlife, and growing urban areas, more than 30 RIT faculty have recognized the importance of traveling to the continent, all backed by RIT Global.
