“This recognition and distinction from BHAC substantiates our progress toward achieving our vision to be recognized as a national leader of university employee well-being programs, and guides us in our pursuit to attain the benchmarks of a healthy academic community. We are honored to be a recipient and remain steadfast in our efforts to deliver resources and opportunities that enable our community members to thrive.”
- BHAC DESIGNATION GOLD Recipient
Victor Tringali, EdD, CSCS
Manager, Employee Well-being, University of Virginia Human Resources
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Co-Chair, UVA Education Collaborative for Health Promotion and Well-being
Vice-President, National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities
National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities
BHAC Designation for Institutional Health and Well-being
Research has demonstrated that faculty, staff and student health, productivity and academic success are inextricably linked. Because of this, the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) is committed to improving the well-being of our students, faculty and staff, the institutions they represent and the communities they serve. Recognizing that academia should construct a culture and environment that focuses on comprehensive/systemic wellness, and not siloes of programming, BHAC has created the Healthy Academics Designation program.
Through the BHAC Healthy Academics Designation process, BHAC recognizes institutions that demonstrate best practices in student, faculty and staff health management and well-being, and helps them to align their practices with health, productivity, program sustainability and academic outcomes. BHAC provides an ongoing continuous improvement process, irrespective of an institution’s size and experience in health and well-being management for their campus community.
The BHAC Healthy Academics Designation program measures an academic institution’s population health management and well-being practices in three key areas: 1) institutional engagement and alignment, 2) population health and well-being management, and 3) outcomes reporting. Designation can be conducted for the faculty/staff population, the student population, or both, depending upon how the institution addresses the health and well-being needs for these individuals. The designation process is comprised of three steps:
Step 1: BHAC Online Assessment – After your institution identifies itself as being prepared and registers (paying all appropriate fees), you can access the BHAC Healthy Academics Designation online assessment. You have 30 days to complete one on-line assessment; 45 days to complete both.
- The assessment measures the maturity of your institution’s health and well-being practices.
Step 2: Virtual Audit – If your institution scores at least 70% on the on-line assessment, a 2-hour virtual audit is conducted by teleconference with one to two BHAC designation team members. As an designation candidate, you will respond to a set of questions and requests for information in the form of a 45-minute presentation.
- A description of your institution to assess the campus culture and environment.
- Review and validation of your institution’s online assessment results.
- Discussion and feedback on your institution’s plans, strategies and areas of improvement.
Step 3: Accreditation Confirmation and Action Plan – Based on information received during the audit, the BHAC designation team will adjust your final score. Designation is awarded based on the total adjusted score and according to the following criteria.
BHAC Institution of Distinction in Health & Well-being: 90% of the total score
BHAC Institution of Excellence in Health and Well-being: 80% of the total score
BHAC Institution of Merit in Health and Well-being: 70% of the total score
- You will receive a detailed BHAC Designation Action Plan and your designation status.
- As a BHAC designated institution, you will receive formal recognition and promotional materials for use in external relations and institutional communications.
- If your institution does not meet the minimum accreditation criteria, you may qualify to receive a provisional status with a designated timeline for improvement.
Designation must be renewed every 3 years to maintain or improve your designation status.
Would you like more information or like to discuss how your organization can participate?
Please reach out to Megan Amaya.
Megan Amaya, PhD, CHES
Associate Clinical Professor
Director of Health Promotion and Wellness
Co-Director, Bachelor of Science in Health & Wellness
Past-President, National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities
Office of the Chief Wellness Officer
College of Nursing
148 Newton Hall, 1585 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-5509 Office
amaya.13@osu.edu