An HBCU strategy for building a healthy campus community

The elimination of health disparities is an accepted charge by many diverse communities across the nation. Communities are identifying “distinctive best practices” in closing the health disparity gaps among its particular constituents. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have been identified as key contributors to such movements through their academic programs, health research, and health outreach activities targeting African American communities in general. Increasingly visible disparate health outcomes among HBCUs' mostly African American student populations, faculty, and staff are forcing these historic institutions to look inward for specific ways to promote healthy minds and bodies among their own. It seems as campus communities, they too need to identify “distinctive best practices” for eliminating health disparities among their members. A health wellness initiative at Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio purposes to implement “best practices” to improve health outcomes for the students, faculty, and staff of this particular HBCU community. Best practices that involve bringing together CSU's existing health wellness entities under the auspices of a common theme and agenda encouraging wellness among its mostly African American community members. Strategies of the initiative will be discussed that describe the health education, health research, and health outreach activities across campus promoting healthy minds and bodies. Best practices will be shared that incorporate some of the cultural and historical uniqueness of HBCU communities. This initiative will have far reaching and long-term implications for improved health outcomes for all the constituents of this HBCU community and beyond.