Above: Elementary students in a local classroom where UNC faculty and students observed their physical activity during the day.  

The University of Northern Colorado has been selected as one of two partner universities in the Active Schools national collaborative to address physical inactivity and obesity among youth.

In addition, UNC Sport and Exercise Science (SES) faculty Russell Carson and Brian Dauenhauer have been appointed to positions on the nonprofit organization’s leadership committees.

Through the UNC Active Schools Lab, community engagement efforts, student-centered research and school-based educational activities are already underway. Those interdisciplinary efforts include a grant exceeding $700,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation for UNC SES faculty to contribute to building a statewide system that connects efforts to promote health and wellness for children starting in high-need schools in northern Colorado.

According to Active Schools, two out of three children don’t meet the national guideline of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Active Schools serves as a clearinghouse to help schools access best practices, programs and resources to increase opportunities for physical activity among students.

The organization’s partners include leading health, education and private-sector organizations, such as Nike, the NBA, and USA Track & Field. UNC and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania are the two higher education partners. Active Schools ambassadors include decorated Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller and UNC graduate and educator Cyrus Weinberger, who developed a rigorous academic program coupled with a comprehensive wellness program at his former school in Erie.

For more information, visit https://www.activeschoolsus.org 

 Other Examples of UNC Sport and Exercise Science Work

•  The UNC Active Schools Lab knows Active Kids Do Better, the theme of a 2015 UNC Schulze Speaker Series that engaged over 200 community members with national and state leaders on the topic.
• In 2015, UNC launched a first-of-its-kind master's (MAT) degree program designed to expand teachers' capacity to lead comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs). In 2016, UNC starting offering BEAR PAW, a summer physical activity week for local school-aged children taught by current MAT students.
• In 2017, UNC expanded its on-campus summer experiences to include the first annual Summer Physical Activity Leader (PAL) Academy for school health and education partners, professionals and BEAR PAW parents to learn best practices from former MAT students and leading scholars in the field.

Visit UNC's active school websitefor more information.