Rockhurst Celebrates Exercise is Medicine-On Campus Month

Care to take a walk?

October kicks off Exercise is Medicine-On Campus month on the Rockhurst University campus, a recognition of the role exercise can play in overall wellness. And it’s a kickoff to friendly competitions between Rockhurst and peers across the globe and among student groups across campus.

On Tuesday, University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., officially marked Exercise is Medicine Month with a proclamation, after which she and Nicole Moodie, Ph.D., associate professor of exercise science, led a group on a one-mile walk around campus.

The proclamation recognized the role that regular physical activity plays in the overall wellbeing of students. Cassady encouraged all members of the University community to take the opportunity to get outside or hit the gym as they are able. She also highlighted the continued work of Exercise is Medicine-On Campus at Rockhurst University, through which student volunteers provide services for healthy living year-round.

“Promoting physical activity on campus is essential to creating a culture of health, fostering student engagement, and improving overall wellbeing,” she said in the proclamation. “Implementing routine physical activity assessments and promotion within campus health services ensures that every student receives support and encouragement to integrate exercise into their daily lives.” 

At 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday for the remainder of the month, Moodie and the Exercise is Medicine-On Campus chapter at Rockhurst will host student-led mile-long walks. And make sure to log those steps — students, faculty and staff can contribute their mileage to Team RU in the international Walking Challenge, in competition with participating colleges and universities worldwide.

Throughout the month, student groups will also compete against each other on campus to see who can notch the most activity to celebrate, Moodie said. She encouraged those interested to follow the Exercise is Medicine-On Campus Instagram page for updates throughout the month.