Missouri University of Science and Technology faculty and staff will have new incentives to get healthy in a new wellness challenge. The program, called Miners on the Move, begins on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The pilot program is sponsored by Missouri S&T’s human resource services and “Healthy for Life,” the T.E. Atkins University of Missouri Wellness Program. The program’s goal is to encourage Missouri S&T faculty and staff to move toward a healthy lifestyle.

The voluntary program will kick off with a walk through campus on Sept. 15, led by Chancellor John F. Carney III. The walk will begin at the Puck, located in the center of campus. All participants in the walk will receive a free T-shirt and welcome gifts.

Faculty and staff will track their progress using Blackboard, an online course management system. The Miners on the Move program includes five steps: free health screenings (cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, height and weight), online health assessment, annual physical exam, participation in wellness programs (three flexible options) and non-use or cessation of all forms of tobacco. The screenings and assessments are completely confidential.

As steps are completed, employees will receive incentives, such as rebates, discounts and awards.
The wellness programs include a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, Million Steps Pedometer and 500-Mile Odometer Programs, Weight Watchers at Work and Eat for Life. Several of these programs offer full rebates of the registration costs. Faculty and staff will also have the option of completing 1,500 minutes of activity on their own.

Participants who are benefit-eligible and complete all of the steps by June 30, 2011, will receive $150 in cash in July 2011. This cash incentive is funded by the University of Missouri to motivate and reward faculty and staff for their efforts at wellness and prevention.