Wellness Program
USD Wellness
Wellness is generally seen as a philosophy that embraces many principles for good health and begins with a conscious decision to shape a healthy lifestyle.
The term wellness was first used by a physician named Halbert L. Dunn, who published a small booklet entitled “High Level Wellness” in 1961. Dr. Dunn saw wellness as a lifestyle approach for pursuing elevated states of physical and psychological well-being. He described it as a disciplined commitment to personal mastery. He elaborated on a philosophy that was, from the start, multidimensional, centered on personal responsibility and environmental awareness.
Our mission for Wellness at the University of San Diego is to improve the overall health & lifestyle of university employees. Our vision is to promote wellness initiatives and programming that strives to improve employee behavior and minimize preventable illnesses.
One employee at a time we plan to assist and encourage members of our community to take up healthy practices and give up unhealthy habits.
Wellness Program Benefits
All benefit-based employees will be automatically enrolled into the Wellness Program. Incentives will be provided to those employees who participate in the program.
Benefits of Participation in the USD Wellness Program:
- Participation in the USD Wellness Program will earn employees Wellness Dollars*.
- Employees can earn up to $240 Wellness Dollars in 2008 to be applied to the 2009 year.
- Wellness Dollars* earned in 2008 reduce payroll deductions for USD medical plan deductions in the 2009 Plan Year. Those employees who are enrolled in Kaiser or SIMNSA and do not have payroll deductions for medical premium contributions will have their Wellness Dollars deposited to a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)** which they can use to offset their out-of-pocket health care costs (e.g. prescription co-pays, physician’s office visit co-pays, medical or dental co-insurance amounts, deductibles, prescription eye wear such as frames, lenses, contact lenses and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs).
*Please note that only employees who are enrolled in a USD medical plan in 2009 will be awarded Wellness Dollars.
** Employees must be enrolled in an HCFSA for 2009 for at least the minimum of $100/year in order to receive the deposit of Wellness Dollars to their account.
- Improved employee awareness of health conditions and risks based on outcome of Health Risk Assessment or annual physicals, and participation in on-campus Wellness Workshops.
Employees can earn Wellness Dollars when they participate in the following wellness activities. Wellness Dollars will be awarded as follows:
- Health Risk Assessment (HRA) or annual physical exam - $80
- Health Screenings (age appropriate) - $80
- Exercise/Physical Activity (at least 30 minutes, 3 times/week) - $80
- Nutrition and/or Weight Loss Programs - $80
- Health Improvement Programs - $80
- On-Campus Wellness Workshops (attendance at a minimum of 3) - $80
Most wellness activities are self reported. Some items require documentation to show proof of completion, such as HRAs, annual physical exams, and health screenings. Attendance will be taken at on-campus wellness workshops. A signed Wellness Program Participation Form must be submitted to the HR office no later than December 8, 2008 to receive credit towards a reduction in 2009 medical premiums, or a contribution to an HCFSA** for 2009 expenses. The participation form can be obtained in the Human Resources office or online at www.sandiego.edu/hr/benefits. Click on Forms and scroll down to Wellness Program Participation Form.
Below are examples of wellness activities. This list is not exhaustive, but serves to give examples of activities that would be considered as participation in healthy activities which promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle.
- Exercise/Physical Activity (at least 30 minutes, 3 times/week)
- Walking
- Running/jogging
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Tennis
- Swimming
- Step class
- Kick boxing
- In-line or roller skating
- Nutrition and/or Programs
- Eating 5 servings of fruits & vegetables/day
- Drinking at least eight, 8 oz. glasses of water each day
- Weight Watchers-at-Work program
- Other weight loss programs
- Health Improvement Programs
- Smoking cessation programs
- Diabetes management programs
The Wellness Program Participation Form must be completed and returned to the Human Resources office after the end of November 2008, and before Dec. 8, 2008 in order to receive credit for Wellness Dollars.
Campus Recreation Fitness Classes
Chair Massage by Body Techniques
On-campus chair massages are provided by massage therapists from Body Techniques. Click here to see the next on-campus date and location, and to schedule your appointment.
You have the option of scheduling appointments for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. See pricing below.
Massage Therapy Pricing:
10 minutes - $11.00
15 minutes - $15.00
20 minutes - $20.00
30 minutes - $29.00
Fitness for a Cause
[Information coming soon.]
Gym Membership Discounts
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Discounts for Blue Cross members
- Discounts for Kaiser members
Health Risk Assessments
Health Screenings
Low Calorie Snacks
Recipes
[Information coming soon.]
Self-Guided Walking Routes
Get moving and get healthy as you walk through USD’s beautiful campus! These self-guided routes range from approximately 0.3 miles to approximately 1.25 miles. Routes vary and some include stairs and/or hills. Choose your route based on distance or terrain, or link two or more together to make a more challenging walk.
Except for down the hill on the west side of the Shiley Center for Science and Technology, all loops are on extant pedestrian ways. Both the West and the Main Campus Loops have no stairs and are relatively flat.
Listed below are route descriptions. Click here for map.
IPJ Loop (~ 0.3 mile): Green
Begin at the east side of the fountain in front of the Institute of Peace and Justice, continue past the 9/11 memorial, around the north side of the IPJ, to its west end, around the scenic overlook, around the outer sidewalk on the building’s south side, past the east entrance to La Paloma, and return back to the east side of the fountain.
Central Loop (~ 0.5 mile): Red
Begin from the east side of Loma Hall and walk south to the South Perimeter Road, then east, past the Pardee Legal Research Center and the Alumni Center, across Marian Way (the main road through the center of campus), east along the sidewalk over the lawn to the North Perimeter Road, north then west behind the University Center, north across the pedestrian crossing, west through the Tecolote Memorial Garden (overlooking the canyon), south across the North Perimeter Road, along the west side of the west UC parking lot, across Marian Way, east to the stairs on the east side of Warren Hall, south down the stairs, along the east side of Warren Hall and return back to the east side of Loma Hall.
Main Campus Loop (~ 1.25 miles): Pink
Begin from the front of the Shiley Center for Science and Technology, then continue east along the South Perimeter Road, past the south side of Serra Hall, Loma Hall, the Pardee Legal Research Center and the Alumni Center, across Marian Way, east along the sidewalk over the lawn to the North Perimeter Road, north then west behind the University Center, north across the pedestrian crosswalk, west through the Tecolote Memorial Garden (overlooking the canyon), past the Print Shop and Procurement Office, past the Immaculata, continue west past the tennis courts, turn south along the west side of Camino Way past the west side of the library, across Marian Way, across the South Perimeter Road to the front of the Shiley Center of Science and Technology.
West Loop (~ 1.0 mile): Blue
Begin from the front of the Shiley Center for Science and Technology, continue west on the road down the hill, around the west, south (through the Strata Plaza) and east sides of the building, up three flights of stairs, across to the north side of the South Perimeter Road, then east, north along the east side of the driveway into the Hughes Center parking lot, north along the west side of the Hughes Center, up the stairs on the south side of the fountain spillway, east along south side of the Colachis Plaza and up the east stairs, around the stair rail, then back down the stairs west along the north side of the fountain and spillway, down the west stairs, then north to the pedestrian crossing, west across the west Immaculata parking lot, north along the path to the east of the Founders Hall courtyard to the path’s end, west into the courtyard, around the courtyard’s perimeter through the north gate, west along the south side of the North Perimeter Road past the tennis courts, turning south along the east side of Camino Way and walk past the SOLES building, across Marian Way, east on Marian Way to the entrance to the 9/11 Memorial, past the entrance to the IPJ and return back to the front of the Shiley Center for Science and Technology.
East Loop (~1.0 mile): Blue
From the tram stop by the Jenny Craig Pavilion roundabout north down the hill past the baseball field, east along the Manchester Village field, south up the hill past Manchester Village. West at the top of the hill, then north and west along the north side of the parking lot and above the baseball field, along the north side of the JCP, south along the west side of the building to the tram stop by the Jenny Craig Pavilion roundabout.
Vistas Loop (~0.3 mile): Green
Begin at the entrance to the Alcala Vista Apartments by Linda Vista Road, continue walking east along the south side of the apartments, walk north along the east side of the Borrego apartment building through the Borrego courtyard, out to the east parking lot, follow the road northwest around the Palomar apartment building and then south past the tennis courts, west towards parking lot and the Sports Center, south along the road between the tram stop and the Cuyamaca apartment building until you arrive back to the entrance by Linda Vista Road.
Smoking Cessation Programs
- American Lung Association - Freedom from Smoking Program at www.lungusa.org. Click on Quit Smoking.
- Blue Cross
- Kaiser
Weight Loss Programs
- Weight Watchers at Work
This program has run successfully on-campus and continues to motivate employees to lead a healthier lifestyle. If you’re interested in losing weight and getting healthier, you may join at any time. Sessions run for a 12-week period, but if you just found out about this program, you can join now and the fee will be pro-rated. New members are always welcomed.
Weekly meetings and weigh-ins are held every Wednesday at 12:00 noon in Degheri Alumni Center, Room 112.
Contact Sue Pillsbury-Barton at (619) 260-2737 for more information.
- DASH Diet
- Discounts for Blue Cross members
- Discounts for Kaiser members
