BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY

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B-CU Awarded Grant to Develop Campus-Wide Wellness Program

The Odessa Chambliss Wellness Center at the B-CU School of Nursing has been awarded a $48,000 grant by the Florida Department of Health to develop a campus-wide wellness program.  The grant is administered through the FLDOH Bureau of Tobacco Prevention Program, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and Bureau of Epidemiology.

"We are very excited to partner with the Florida Department of Health on programs that will improve the health and well-being of our campus family," noted Dr. Alma Dixon, executive director of the Odessa Chambliss Wellness Center. "Part of our mission is to increase the health literacy of B-CU's students.  This grant will enable us to develop specific programs targeted to their needs."

As a first step, the Wellness Center is conducting a random health survey of approximately 800 students to gauge a range of health-related behaviors, such as nutrition, exercise and tobacco use.  The survey will also identify barriers to healthy living among the student population.  Based on the survey results, a targeted student wellness program called "Wildcat Wellness" will be developed and implemented on campus.

Another important element of the program's design and implementation is the use of three student ambassadors to ensure that program elements speak to today's students.  The ambassadors helped circulate the student survey and collected responses.