By Jackie Luskey

The online health resource, Greatist, published their list of “The 25 healthiest colleges in the United States.” NIRSA boasts 15 of its institutional members topping the list and we couldn’t be prouder of the strong network of NIRSA members from all over that make a healthy life part of a healthy college experience.


Photo: Bruce Powell

The list was composed based on the fitness facilities, recreational opportunities, health services, and food choices available to students on individual campuses. To this effect, collegiate recreation plays an integral part in the great machine that makes up a healthy campus. From Stanford University’s dragonboat sport club to UCLA’s hula hoop fitness classes, collegiate recreation initiatives are proving that supporting a healthy community can be innovative, unique, and undeniably fun.

Congratulations to the NIRSA Institutional Members who were included in the Greatist’s top 25:

Certifications

  • Stanford University
  • Virginia Tech
  • Rice University
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Brown University
  • Cornell University
  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • University of Chicago
  • James Madison University
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • UCLA
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of Georgia
  • Boston University
  • Columbia University
  • Georgetown University

Beyond NIRSA Institutional Members, the list also touts universities where NIRSA Professional Members serve, which includes Oberlin College, St. Olaf College, and the Greatist’s number one pick of Bowdoin College. We enthusiastically applaud our members whose hard work helped mark their institution as one of Greatist’s healthiest colleges; however, we more so are thrilled that Greatist took the time to acknowledge the importance of healthy communities on college campuses. The growing opportunities for collegiate recreation professionals to provide healthy options to the students they serve is noticed, appreciated, and worthy of celebration. In the end, it’s not really about who made a list, but rather the greater attention to the clear fact that the everyday work of NIRSA of members matters, and greatly so.