U -walkRevolutionizing University Employee Wellness

@kaikight KAI KIGHT krkight@stanford.edu

College campuses are filled with employees who work in department offices behind the scenes.

Desk jobs can lead to habitual sedentary behavior

Colleges around the country are starting wellness programs to promote physical activity

Colleges around the country are starting wellness programs to promote physical activity

Colleges around the country are starting wellness programs to promote physical activity

Colleges around the country are starting wellness programs to promote physical activity

Colleges around the country are starting wellness programs to promote physical activity

While some programs do succeed in improving employee health...

While some programs do succeed in improving employee health...

many FAIL to reach a wide employee

audience.

While some programs do succeed in improving employee health...

many FAIL to reach a wide employee

audience.

WHY?

1. Disconnection from the actual daily routines of the employees

1. Disconnection from the actual daily routines of the employees

2. Overlooking of the social and behavioral dynamics of the office

environment

University Employees need a way to combine their daily routines in a way that is...

University Employees need a way to combine their daily routines in a way that is...

SOCIAL

University Employees need a way to combine their daily routines in a way that is...

SOCIAL

SIMPLE

University Employees need a way to combine their daily routines in a way that is...

SOCIAL

SIMPLE

ENGAGING

THE SOLUTION

is a program for University employees that promotes walking in a way that matches the

systems and routines already in place on college campuses.

U -walk

HOW DOES IT WORK?

6 steps

U -walk

University departments challenge each other to walking competitions

1 U -walk

Employees select a campus walking route from a pre-made

list provided by U-walk

2 U -walk

U -walk

Employees walk the route while scanning their ID cards at card readers along the way that are

designated by U-walk

3 U -walk

U -walk

U-walk, in collaboration with Campus card IT services,

checks the participation by analyzing employee swipes at

designated scanners

4 U -walk

Points are given to employees for completing walks and

swiping cards

5 U -walk

The department with the most points after a span of time wins

discounts sponsored by local campus businesses

6 U -walk

U -walk

WHY U -WALK?

With U -walk, Universities can...

1. Increase employee teamwork and communication

With U -walk, Universities can...

1. Increase employee teamwork and communication

2. Lower health insurance expenses

With U -walk, Universities can...

1. Increase employee teamwork and communication

2. Lower health insurance expenses

3. Increase employee productivity and health

With U -walk, Universities can...

With U -walk, Employees can...

1. Increase physical activity

With U -walk, Employees can...

1. Increase physical activity

2. Gain discounts just from walking

With U -walk, Employees can...

1. Increase physical activity

2. Gain discounts just from walking

3. Increase workplace engagement through cooperation and competition

With U -walk, Employees can...

BUT WHAT CAN CAMPUS BUSINESSES GAIN?

1. If a company is sponsoring prizes, U -walk can literally drive traffic to their location by having

routes pass through the business site

1. If a company is sponsoring prizes, U -walk can literally drive traffic to their location by having

routes pass through the business site

2. Positive advertising

1. If a company is sponsoring prizes, U -walk can literally drive traffic to their location by having

routes pass through the business site

2. Positive advertising

3. Customers in bulk

What do university employees think of U -Walk?

After a three week test run of U -walk at Stanford University...

Employees greatly enjoyed the social and gamification aspects of U-walk

"I liked having a constant reason to stay active during my breaks. I saw complete new parts of campus for the first time!" - Music Department staff

"Walking during breaks feels more like a game now. Before it was just for exercise"- Undergraduate advising staff

"It increased communication and cohesion across our department. We even planned times to walk together as a unit!"- Vice provost operations staff

"It's kind of like walking tours and Groupon all in one"- Engineering department staff

EMPLOYEE QUOTES

THANK YOUMy name is Kai Kight and I am a Junior at Stanford University majoring in Product Design. If you want to bring U -walk to your college or university, or if you would simply like more information about the project, please contact me by email, twitter, or phone.

KAI KIGHT krkight@stanford.edu @kaikight 301 455 1992

Special thanks to BJ Fogg, Stanford University Campus Card Office, Stanford University BeWell Program, and the amazing employee participants from Stanford University