UA Health in Action

UA Health in Action

The university has added a new component to its wellness program. All employees eligible for the university's health plan may participate in a variety of on-site wellness seminars, events, workshops and health accountability groups offered through the UA Health in Action program. The program is a partnership between the university and Wellness Initiatives Network for Alaska, Inc. (WIN for Alaska).

The company expects to offer stress reduction and nutrition seminars and physical fitness events such as body fat analysis, blood pressure, lung capacity, flexibility tests, chair massages, etc. Participation programs may include walks during the summer or yoga classes.

The program will offer monthly events at Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau campuses. WIN for Alaska will be on-site semiannually at locations with at least 20 employees. In UA locations with fewer than 20 faculty and staff, the company will maintain regular communication with employees. Most events will have little or no cost to employees.

The UA Health in Action Web site lists upcoming events and includes a number of wellness resources. Details about upcoming events in your area will also be e-mailed to you beforehand. If the program is being offered during work hours, you will need to get your supervisor's approval before attending.

Links of Interest:
UA Health in Action Web Site

Q & A

How do I register?
Register on the program's Health Activity Tracker, which is also the program's information center. It will list upcoming activities in your area. You may also enter your health-related data and track your activities online. No one will view your personal information except you.

How does WIN for Alaska decide which programs to offer?
The company relies on feedback from employees to plan events of interest to as many employees as possible. It will also use the Summex health risk assesment to plan events aimed at reducing the greatest overall risk factors identified in the assesment, which, in 2005, were poor nutrition, cardiovascular disease and stress. Anyone with program ideas, may e-mail WIN For Alaska at winfor@alaska.net, or call toll-free at
(866) 248-0797.

What kind of experience does WIN for Alaska have?
The company has been providing on-site wellness programs to large organizations in Alaska for more than eight years. Their clients have included the Anchorage School District and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

Please email UA Benefits about any problems with this page 21-December-2006

Photo credits: woman in field class and woman at Sitka campus photos courtesy of UAS; Mt. McKinley photo credit © Rex Melton,
Alaska Division of Tourism; flower photo credit Nile Mueller; aurora photo credit Jan Curtis 2003