Well Workplace Award Gold Winner: The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama (UNA) serves a diverse student body of more than 10,000 students. At UNA, wellness means fostering a campus culture of holistic well-being and extending that commitment to the broader community and region. The university’s wellness strategy is grounded in its wellness mission statement: The University of North Alabama's Wellness Program pursues its Mission of engaging, supporting, educating, and servicing the university community in championing an environment of health and wellness for all. We strive to provide diverse and holistic programs of excellence that support a healthy lifestyle while greatly enhancing the quality of our lives and community.

Leadership Support

Wellness at UNA would not exist without strong leadership support, according to Jacquelyn Allen, director of wellness and health promotion and lecturer of kinesiology. Leaning into the principles of Benchmark 1: Committed and Aligned Leadership, foundational champions of the wellness strategy include Former Provost Ross Alexander and President Kenneth Kitts, whose support was critical in the program’s initial approval and rollout. Today, leadership engagement continues at every level. UNA demonstrates a culture where wellness is championed from the top down, from President Kitts, who has embedded wellness as a key component of the university’s five-year strategic plan, to vice presidents, deans, and department chairs who actively promote wellness initiatives, encourage participation, approve and present awards, and serve as motivational speakers.

Early Success

Success began early, with strong enthusiasm and participation in UNA’s pilot wellness program, Roar for Wellness. Data collected from pre- and post-screenings demonstrated measurable improvements in triglycerides and HDL levels, evidence of positive progress toward UNA’s goal of reducing chronic illness and heart disease risk.

On a more personal note, one employee, after being advised by her physician to make changes to her health, decided to join the pilot program. She committed to the employee fitness classes and applied the strategies she learned through wellness education to transform her daily habits. Over time, she lost enough weight to improve her overall health, lower her risk for chronic illness, and discontinue all medications. Today, she remains an active participant in UNA’s worksite wellness offerings and serves as a dedicated wellness ambassador, inspiring and supporting others on their wellness journeys.

Wellness Initiatives at UNA

Wellness offerings at UNA align with all Six Dimensions of Wellness and include an incentive-based rewards program, challenges, educational sessions, fitness classes, wellness activities, and health screenings. High engagement is fueled not only by strong leadership support, but also by thoughtful planning, execution, and collaboration among the wellness team and departments across campus. Wellness ambassadors play a key role by leading wellness efforts within their respective departments. UNA is also fortunate to employ graduate students who add to the momentum by bringing energy, new ideas, and unique skillsets that keep wellness initiatives fresh and motivating, further contributing to the success of wellness at UNA. Additionally, UNA works with a wellness vendor that supports in the review of data and trends, offering recommendations for areas of improvement to their wellness strategy.

This strong foundation allows UNA to implement innovative and targeted wellness initiatives, including one of its most successful programs: Heart 2 Heart.

Heart 2 Heart Program Overview

The purpose of Heart 2 Heart is to support individuals with an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease in adopting lasting, heart-healthy lifestyle changes. The initiative is grant-funded and designed to be accessible and engaging for participants.

Biometric screenings, held at various convenient times and locations on campus, are required for participation. Accommodations are made for employees unable to attend the scheduled screenings. Eligibility is determined based on factors such as total cholesterol, LDL, blood pressure, weight, and historical health trends. Participation is voluntary and remains high, with most participants expressing excitement and gratitude for the opportunity.

Once enrolled, participants gain access to a range of resources, including a course, educational handouts, videos, recipes, and books, as well as tools such as resistance bands. Perhaps the greatest benefit is a personalized fitness plan developed in consultation with a certified exercise physiologist at the faculty-staff wellness center. Participants learn how to safely exercise to achieve their individual health goals.

A new feature this year is ApoB testing, which measures levels of the protein apolipoprotein B in the blood, providing participants with an additional way to assess their cardiovascular disease risk. Participants remain in Heart 2 Heart until they achieve their goals and graduate from the program, though they may elect to opt out at any time—a rare occurrence.

Wellness is embedded in the culture at UNA, encouraging employees to be more mindful of the choices they make and how those choices impact their health and well-being. As a result of this intentional wellness strategy, employees are more engaged in the organization and more productive in their roles, according to Jacquelyn.

Employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the organization eagerly anticipates the annual UNA employee wellness awards ceremony, where team members are recognized for their wellness achievements.

Jacquelyn’s advice to organizations looking to build or strengthen their worksite wellness strategy includes the following.

• Secure top leadership support first.
• Conduct a needs assessment to understand employee interests and priorities.
• Let the data and leadership backing drive your strategy.

The University of North Alabama is a 2025 Well Workplace Award recipient. Click here to review a complete list of award winners.

Interested in applying for a Well Workplace Award? Learn more about the Well Workplace Award application process here.

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  Ashton DeMoss

  Wellness Content and Information Specialist

  IFEBP

  As a Wellness Content and Information Specialist at the Wellness Alliance, Ashton is passionate about supporting employee well-being and advancing workplace wellness initiatives. With over 12 years of experience as a certified health coach, Ashton has worked extensively in the worksite wellness sector, empowering individuals and organizations to prioritize health and create sustainable wellness strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys group exercise classes and participating in a monthly book club to nurture both her physical and mental well-being.