TAMIU Keeps in Step with Employee Wellness, Hosts 5K Event Saturday

Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Employee Wellness Program will host a 5K Fun Run and Walk for employees to celebrate the second year of the Program on Saturday, May 9 beginning at 8 a.m. on campus at the north end of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library.

Known as “HealthyU,” the Program promotes well-being by providing a work environment that educates, empowers and supports employees to make responsible, healthy choices in their lives, creating a culture of wellness throughout the University community.

Saturday’s event is the culmination of an eight-week fitness challenge, and open to all University employees. Over 100 employees have registered for the event.

TAMIU associate director of Human Resources and program Committee chair Jessica Palacios said employees have really embraced wellness at the University.

“Current research shows a direct correlation between employee health and wellness programs and lowered healthcare costs, reduced absenteeism, higher employee productivity, reduced workers’ compensation and disability-related costs, reduced injuries and improved employee loyalty, morale and sense of well-being,” she said.

“We’ve found that by affording our employees an opportunity to better their health, we better their lives, their service to the University…and this helps us all to more fully realize our service mission.  Our employees are really enjoying the opportunity and the spectrum of fitness activities they can join,” Palacios explained.

TAMIU President Dr. Ray Keck concurred.

“While a University is dedicated to the pursuit of a vigorous mind, we should also live a healthy, vigorous life as well.  TAMIIU employees are fortunate to work on a campus with top-notch fitness facilities – all in a beautiful setting that truly lends itself to walking, running and trail biking,” Dr. Keck said.

Also offered through the HealthyU program is an annual health and wellness fair, a walking club, a yoga class, a community service challenge and passes to the University’s Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center.

The program is funded in part by a competitive grant awarded by The Texas A&M University System.

Last year’s HealthyU Program focused on a 10-week Walking Challenge with 47 five-person teams, or 235 employees participating.  At the end of the Challenge, employees as a group has walked 58,266 miles, or equivalent of 2.34 times around the world.

For additional information on HealthyU, The TAMIU Employee Wellness Program, please contact Palacios at 956.326.2362, email Jessica@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 157.    

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu