BINGHAMTON, NY – Binghamton University will hosts its first-ever Healthy Campus Summit, taking place from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, in the University Union, on campus. This event is free and open to the public.

The University’s Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) strives to cultivate a culture that is supportive of individuals and groups in pursuit of their optimal potential. The purpose of the Healthy Campus Summit is to redefine the University’s culture and open a dialogue about its HCI for the campus and surrounding community. The summit will provide information about campus-wide projects involving new educational programs, research and lifestyle suggestions. Panels will explore a variety of health and wellness issues.

At the Student Involvement Fair, attendees can visit with organizations that offer opportunities to become involved in various health-and-wellness-related experiences, including internships, research and academic programs. Representatives will be available from: the Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC), Undergraduate Research Center, Campus Recreation, M-HOPE peers and Mental Health Certificate program, REACH peers, Health and Wellness Studies Department, Student Culinary Council, 20:1 Sexual Assault Prevention and Bystander Intervention programs and the Interdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Program (ITURP).

Megan Amaya, director of health promotion and wellness, assistant professor in practice at the College of Nursing at Ohio State University and president-elect for the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities, will give the keynote address, titled "Best Practices in Building Cultures and Environments of Wellness in Academic Institutions: What Works!"

Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, will share some thoughts on the strategic direction of the initiative in the years to come in a panel session. Closing remarks for the summit will be made by Johann Fiore-Conte, assistant vice president for health and wellness.

The HCI supports a fresh mindset, B-Healthy: Choose Well, Be Well. The initative has received esteemed awards in the recent years, including the 2015 SUNY Outstanding Student Affairs Program in the category of Student Health, Wellness, Counseling and related; and the 2015-16 NASPA Excellence Awards Bronze Certificate in the category of Student Health, Wellness and related, and hopes to keep improving.

For a full schedule of events, visit https://www.binghamton.edu/bhealthy/summit.html.