Ten years ago, if a college student wanted information,
they went to the library. Today, they go to Google. Five
years ago, they communicated by e-mail; now they'd rather
IM.
But some things never change. Ask students about their
biggest health concerns and you'll hear about stress, trouble
sleeping, colds and flu, relationship problems — all issues
that have plagued students for generations.
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HEALTHY CHOICES: Eastern Michigan University
graduate
students Lance Krebler, of Manchester, and
Ashley Wiedeman, of Ypsilanti, discuss healthy
eating
options at the Wellness Works display
in the Student
Center. Some display topics are
chosen from the
Student Health 101 editorial calendar.
Student Health
101 is an online health magazine
EMU's University
Health Services sends out each
month to EMU
freshmen.
|
The trick is communicating good information about health
to a generation that, for all its instantaneous communication
with each other, isn't so hot on being communicated with.
To bridge that gap, Eastern Michigan's University Health
Services is providing Student Health 101 and its family-focused
edition, "Parent Perspective," to all EMU freshmen, faculty
and staff, and freshmen parents throughout the school year.
They receive the magazine via e-mail every month. Others
will be able to access it through the health education
department's Web site at http://www.emich.edu/uhs/healthed.html.
The two electronic magazines are part of a $3,500 subscription,
which includes hard copies of the Student Health 101 Annual
General Health Guide, a reference booklet of health information
that was distributed through orientation and Fast Track
programs.
"Our goal is not to be telling them, 'Don't do
this' and "Don't do that,'" said publisher Dan Wolman. "We
want to help them get a better understanding of, 'If they
do this, here are the consequences to consider.'"
Student Health 101 started out as a print magazine in
2004, but its creators realized their audience was quickly
evolving from Internet-adopters to Internet-natives. So,
Wolman and company developed a proprietary technology called "LiveMagazine" that
has the slick, colorful look of a print magazine, yet is
packed with interactivity. Mousing over the page reveals
all kinds of embedded features. Clicking on the page zooms
you in or out. Titles enlarge when you scroll over them.
Click and you jump to the article's page.
The September issue included a roommate survival guide,
a piece on getting enough sleep, stories on time management
and what men can do to prevent sexual assault. There are
contests, embedded video and audio, and a continuing sidebar
with cheap, quick, healthy recipes sent in by students,
who can make a quick $10 if their recipe makes the cut.
"The challenge is getting students to think that
health is important," said Kathy Walz, health education
director for EMU's University Health Services. "It's gotten
so much better. Every year, we do the (National College
Health Association) survey, so we can focus in on the top
10 student health concerns and design our programming around
them."
Student Health 101 also has become a tool in that planning
process. The magazine, which goes out to about 200 schools
nationwide, hits a broad range of health topics identified
by its 1,000-member student advisory board. And by checking
out upcoming topics on the magazine's editorial calendar,
University Health Services can coordinate programming to
take advantage of buzz created by the magazine.
"We worked on trying to have it happen last year,
but our old e-mail system couldn't handle it," Walz said. "We
talked about doing a Web site, but we found students really
like this interactive magazine. They have an advisory
board made up of students from all over the country. They
keep it current; they keep it fresh."
Top Ten Academic Impacts for EMU Students in 2008 according
to the National College Health Association Survey.
1. Stress
2. Cold/flu/sore throat
3. Sleep difficulties
4. Concern for troubled friend/family member
5. Relationship difficulties
6. Internet use/computer games
7. Depression/anxiety sisorders/Seasonal Affective Disorder
8. Death of a friend/family member
9. Sinus/ear infection/Bronchitis/Strep Throat
10. Attention Deficit Disorder
