title: Promoting the health of young adults in urban public universities: a case study from City University of New York.
abstract: Changing demographics of college students and new insights into the developmental trajectory of chronic diseases present universities with opportunities to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. The reciprocal relationships between better health and improved educational achievement also offer university health programs a chance to improve retention and graduation rates, a key objective for higher education. In 2007, City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's largest urban public university, launched Healthy CUNY, an initiative designed to offer life-time protection against chronic diseases and reduce health-related barriers to educational achievement. In its first 5 years, Healthy CUNY has shown that universities can mobilize students, faculty, and other constituencies to modify environments and policies that influence health. New policies on tobacco and campus food, enrollment of needy students in public food and housing assistance programs, and a dialogue on the role of health in academic achievement are first steps towards healthier universities.
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health , City University of New York , New York , New York.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freudenberg
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzo
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mongiello
authors.forename: Hollie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Natascia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boeri
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamberson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult