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Butler University Recreation and Wellness Introduces Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga Class

Butler University Recreation and Wellness Introduces Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga Class

Butler University Recreation and Wellness Introduces Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga Class

Dartmouth College Ends Partnership with Headspace App, Shifts Focus to Internal Mental Health Programs

Dartmouth College Ends Partnership with Headspace App, Shifts Focus to Internal Mental Health Programs

Dartmouth College has terminated its institutional subscription to the Headspace app, a platform offering guided meditation, sleep, and breath work, effective September 9. Students who previously accessed Headspace through the College's partnership were notified via email. This decision, according to Student Wellness Center executive director Caitlin Barthelmes, is part of a strategic shift to prioritize Dartmouth's own mental health initiatives, specifically the Mindful Dartmouth project and the Commitment to Care plan. The College's contract with Headspace, which began in 2022, was up for renewal this year. Barthelmes indicated that while there wasn't a 'dramatic' decline in student usage, the numbers remained steady with a slight decrease, coinciding with an increase in the College's internal offerings. The Mindful Dartmouth project aims to cultivate a campus culture of 'mindful resilience, authentic connection, and compassionate leadership' through various mindfulness experiences. The Commitment to Car...

Sutter Health and Presidio Trust Form Landmark Partnership for Health and Wellness in National Park Site

Sutter Health and Presidio Trust Form Landmark Partnership for Health and Wellness in National Park Site

Sutter Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system in California, has established a pioneering partnership with the Presidio Trust, making it the first nonprofit healthcare organization to officially partner with a U.S. national park site. This collaboration aims to integrate healthcare, nature, and community well-being by offering free health and wellness experiences at the Presidio. The initiative will commence with weekly outdoor yoga sessions in the fall of 2026, followed by the introduction of an outdoor wellness installation and additional programming in 2027. These programs are designed to encourage physical activity, recreation, and healthy living, leveraging the Presidio's significant annual visitation of 9.5 million people. The partnership underscores the growing recognition among healthcare and community leaders of the vital role that prevention, physical activity, mental well-being, and social connection play in overall health. Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Sutter Health, emphasized that g...

Harvard College Discontinues Cronkhite Center as Undergraduate Overflow Housing

Harvard College Discontinues Cronkhite Center as Undergraduate Overflow Housing

Harvard College has ceased using the Cronkhite Center as overflow housing for undergraduates, ending a four-year arrangement that temporarily housed Radcliffe Quadrangle residents in the former graduate dormitory. The Cronkhite Center, located at 84 Brattle St., will now revert to housing graduate students, with monthly rents ranging from $1,440 to $1,956. The center was initially converted for undergraduate use in fall 2022 to accommodate a larger student population, which resulted from pandemic-era deferrals leading to an unusually large class. It had a capacity of 123 students and housed individuals from Cabot, Currier, and Pforzheimer Houses. According to College spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo, the decision was made because the additional space was no longer needed.

Brooklyn Tests Green Roofs to Combat Heat, Flooding

Brooklyn Tests Green Roofs to Combat Heat, Flooding

New York City has launched a pilot program to test green roofs on bus shelters, starting with a location in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The initiative aims to reduce urban flooding and lower temperatures for commuters. The green roof, featuring plants and grasses, is installed atop the bus shelter at the corner of Pitkin and Saratoga Avenues, serving the B12 and B14 bus routes. This is the first of its kind in NYC, inspired by similar projects in cities like Amsterdam and Boston. The program also includes testing reflective tape on three bus shelters to assess its cooling effects. The project is funded by the non-profit Resilient Cities Catalyst, with the green roof costing $50,000 to install and maintain.

North Carolina Allocates $1.25 Million in Federal Funding for School-Based Health Centers

North Carolina Allocates $1.25 Million in Federal Funding for School-Based Health Centers

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) have announced an allocation of $1.25 million in federal funding to expand school-based health centers. This investment aims to enhance preventive and acute healthcare, nutrition support, and behavioral health services for students, particularly in rural areas. The funding is part of the North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program (NCRHTP), a statewide initiative designed to address long-standing challenges in rural healthcare access. Five organizations—Appalachian District Health Department, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, First Health of the Carolinas, Mountain Community Health Partnership, and Wilson County Health Department—will receive these funds. Eligibility for the funding required applicants to have an active grant agreement with NCDHHS’ Department of Child and Family Well-being, operate a school-based health center program, and serve areas with limited access to health providers...

Vertical Gardens Offer Sustainable Urban Greenery and Stormwater Management

Vertical Gardens Offer Sustainable Urban Greenery and Stormwater Management

Vertical gardens are emerging as integrated systems that combine building-integrated green infrastructure with decentralized rainwater harvesting. These systems are designed to address several urban challenges, including mitigating stormwater runoff, reducing urban heat island effects, and sustaining urban greenery without depleting municipal water supplies. Key components of these vertical gardens include structural frameworks that support vertical plant growth, smart drip-irrigation systems that utilize harvested rainwater, and the selection of drought-tolerant, native plant species. The design allows for efficient use of space, enabling multiple crops to be grown on different schedules within a single vertical planter, such as a GreenStalk. Additionally, natural elements like the tulip poplar tree, which can grow up to 100 feet, function as a vertical garden for wildlife, providing nectar for pollinators and nesting sites for birds. This approach to gardening maximizes space and resource efficiency in u...

Cornell University Launches 'Cornell Unplugged' Initiative to Reduce Student Screen Time

Cornell University Launches 'Cornell Unplugged' Initiative to Reduce Student Screen Time

Cornell University has introduced a new week-long initiative called 'Cornell Unplugged,' encouraging students, faculty, and staff to decrease their technology use and increase face-to-face interaction. The program aims to address concerns about social isolation, the impact of excessive screen time on learning, and the environmental costs associated with computing and AI. Participants, like third-year environmental engineering student Mikael Murphy-Rendón, are encouraged to set personal goals for unplugging, such as taking notes by hand instead of on an iPad and being more intentional about in-person social interactions. The initiative also suggests that faculty consider tech-free or tech-light exercises in their classrooms. Steven Jackson, chair of the Cornell Sustainable Computing Working Group and vice provost for academic innovation, highlighted that the timing of the initiative at the start of the academic year is designed to help students establish healthier technology habits early on. The program is ...

Dictionary.com adds 'goated,' 'love bomb' and nearly 6,000 more words

Dictionary.com adds 'goated,' 'love bomb' and nearly 6,000 more words

Words from internet slang, artificial intelligence developments, sustainability, global cuisine and health were among the new entries.

How Rain Gardens Help Manage Stormwater and Protect the Environment

How Rain Gardens Help Manage Stormwater and Protect the Environment

Rain gardens are a sustainable way to manage stormwater, reduce runoff, and protect local waterways. Learn how to design, install, and maintain a rain garden to benefit your property and the environment.

Baltimore City Schools Recognized for Health Initiatives in Kaiser Permanente-Sponsored Program

Baltimore City Schools Recognized for Health Initiatives in Kaiser Permanente-Sponsored Program

Armistead Gardens Elementary School and Belmont Elementary School in Baltimore City have been recognized in the America's Healthiest Schools program. This initiative, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and supported by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, honors schools nationwide for their dedication to fostering the health and well-being of both students and staff. The program is one of the longest-running in the U.S. to acknowledge schools that implement initiatives promoting physical, mental, social, and emotional health for students, staff, and their families. Dr. Jermaine Dawson, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), emphasized that supporting the health of students and staff is crucial for thriving school communities and that this recognition highlights the ongoing efforts to support the whole child and build healthier school environments.

University of Utah Addresses Social Media Activity and Threats on Campus

University of Utah Addresses Social Media Activity and Threats on Campus

The University of Utah has issued a statement acknowledging significant online attention and concern regarding social media activity involving members of its campus community. This activity has led to reports of threats and harassment. The university reiterated its strong support for freedom of expression, including speech that may be controversial or upsetting, but emphasized that this freedom must coexist with the responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of others. The institution is actively working with those directly affected and is reviewing the circumstances in accordance with university policy and applicable law. Due to the involvement of individual students, specific details of these matters will not be publicly discussed. The university encourages students to express their views peacefully and respectfully, fostering an environment where disagreements can be addressed constructively without resorting to targeting, intimidation, or threats.