liveWELL MISSION
Inspiring a culture of well-being, providing employees the opportunity to thrive.
OUR PEOPLE CAMPUS CULTURE INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY
Well-being provides the foundation for the people strategy at the University of Iowa. By embedding well-being and mental health into all aspects of campus culture we are better able to support students, faculty, and staff.
liveWELL offers evidence-based health improvement programs and services to support individuals in building and maintaining healthy habits that support each individual’s unique needs.
liveWELL Health Coaches empower employees to make sustainable lifestyle changes that enhance their overall wellbeing. Through collaboration and support, health coaches guide employees to set goals, use their strengths, discover strategies, and celebrate their progress.
408 individuals supported in Health Coaching
96% reported their well-being improved or will improve
96% reported learning new information or new skill
98% reported that they would apply what they learned to their personal well-being
“My Health Coach was kind, accepting, and met me at my current level of health. She listened well, and she offered practical, “do-able” suggestions that I was able to work on right away. The support was authentic. It was personalized, natural, and acknowledged my individuality and humanness.”
Health Coach Participant
BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS
liveWELL offers short-term, evidence-based programs promoting healthy lifestyles through individual and team challenges. Participants consistently report improved well-being.
Data suggests that while individuals report they are not meeting recommended guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption or physical activity, they do report some behavior in both categories. Evidence suggests that both behaviors are dose responsive, meaning that as activity minutes or fruit/vegetable intake increases, so does the associated health benefits. And that even small amounts have value to improve health. Health Coaching supports UI Faculty and Staff in finding small ways to increase healthy behaviors for increased benefit.
Total Moderate Intensity Exercise Minutes Reported on PHA
Cups of Fruit and Veggies Reported on the PHA
Physical activity of any length benefits health. From 2019 to 2024, 64-66% met the 150-minute weekly goal, gaining benefits. Meanwhile, 2628% were less active but still saw benefits, and under 10% remained inactive. (Source: 2018 Advisory Committee for the Physical Activity for Americans)
In 2024, 72% reported eating 2+ servings of fruits and vegetables, gaining health benefits and reduced risk. Even 1-2 servings daily lower the risk of mortality compared to none.
(Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
Embedding well-being programs that support units and departments in their efforts to make the healthy choice available while they are at work supports employee engagement. liveWELL programs offer tailored options that build wellbeing effectively and empower departments to engage in well-being strategy.
Wellness Ambassadors at the University of Iowa are employee volunteers who are passionate about providing health and well-being opportunities to their unit. They collaborate with the liveWELL program to increase awareness of campus resources and promote a culture of well-being.
180 Wellness Ambassadors
12 Wellness Ambassador meetings
“I love being able to bring wellness to the workplace. Just providing one small helpful hint can make a positive impact well into the future.”
Jean Hegland, Application Developer Health Care Information Systems University of Iowa Health Care
By providing grant funds directly to departments for activities that promote physical and emotional health and well-being, liveWELL aims to make practicing healthy habits in the workplace easier, which in turn supports a culture of health on campus.
60 Wellness Grants approved in CY24
52 (87%) UI Health Care, 8 (13%) General Campus
$13,133.11 funded in CY24
Bulletin Boards enhance visibility of well-being programs and services to ensure faculty and staff are aware of programs when they need them. Built by liveWELL for ease of managers and ambassadors to post in meaningful locations.
211 Reads (Fall 2024
37 Downloads (Fall 2024)
80% report their work environment provides opportunity to make healthy choices
87% report their supervisor supports well-being within their unit
When tasked with enhancing well-being as the Wellness Ambassador for the Nursing Clinical Education Center (NCEC), Martin Gallardo organized the unit’s Office Olympics, a fun and creative wellness initiative inspired by the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The games featured simple, accessible activities like walking, drinking water, and eating fruits and vegetables, with participants tracking their efforts daily. Using an honor system, more than 85% of employees joined, fostering healthy habits and boosting morale. Winners received medals, and a Wellness Grant funded t-shirts for all participants. Gallardo’s wife contributed by designing creative leader boards, including a Mario Kart-themed version.
Gallardo’s efforts earned him liveWELL’s Wellness Hero award, with colleagues praising his impact on team morale and healthy living. He plans to host quarterly challenges to keep the momentum going.
Gallardo’s enthusiasm for building community and promoting wellness is rooted in his experience as a personal trainer and organizing morale-boosting activities during challenging times. For him, the Office Olympics is a way to encourage manageable, sustainable habits while keeping wellness fun and accessible.
Evidence-based service model drives the effective delivery of well - being at the University of Iowa. The Personal Health Assessment (PHA) has been an institutional priority since 2006, highlighting the unique well-being priorities across our campus. This data ensures commitment to a comprehensive and campus-wide approach, that builds on strengths while responding to campus needs.
10,089 fac ulty and staff (48%) completed their PHA survey (44% participation in 2023)
80% PHA responders agree that their physical work environment provides opportunities to make healthy choices (81% in 2023)
87% PHA responders agree that their supervisor supports health and well-being locally (87% in 2023)
11,493 faculty and staff touches in a 2024 liveWELL service, program, or event
Personal Health Assessment data suggests 39% of employees report financial stress as a significant barrier to their productivity, a 10% increase from 2022. This number increases when looking at our merit population, of which 55% of employees report this as a performance barrier. In response, access to a financial-management app was piloted with 27 employees in the Division of Student Life, an organization with a large merit population, as a scalable intervention to address financial concerns. YNAB (You Need a Budget) is a program designed to support financial well-being through building skills and awareness in spending and saving behaviors. Because of its industry success, this tool is identified as one of the top tools in supporting financial well-being.
Initial feedback has been promising, as reported in focus groups. One participant said, “This app completely changed my life. I feel calmer and in control of my finances for the first time.”