UCO – Page 16 – Broncho Blogs

Faculty Senate Update

Kuang-Chung (Glen) Hsu, professor of economics

Faculty Senate met on October 5. At the beginning of our meeting, we had an open session with Provost Simmons. First, a new partnership between UCO and Edmond public schools has been established. This is an exciting project for those high school students who may not go to college otherwise. They will finish their last two years in high school and . . . read more

Participants for Holiday Helping Hands Wanted

Mary Deter-Billings, director of talent development

UCO Employee Relations is seeking sponsors and nominations for participants for the Holiday Helping Hands program. Holiday Helping Hands anonymously matches sponsoring departments/individuals from the UCO community with faculty and staff who need a little extra help this holiday season. Nominees provide Employee Relations with a wish list, which . . . read more

2023 Compliance Training Due by End of Year

. . . read more

Unsubscribe to Emails

Molly Steele, benefits specialist

Are you getting emails from previous medical partners? While UCO has discontinued our partnership and communication with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield, you may be continuing to receive emails from them directly , if you signed up for a specific program or email list through them. If you would like to stop getting these marketing emails, you will . . . read more

Compliance Changes Affecting Food Trucks

Risk Management and Safety Operations

Have you heard the latest news regarding food trucks? Recently, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office and Oklahoma LP Gas Administration made it mandatory for food trucks to have hood suppression systems. This system is required to prevent fires that may occur in the hood area of their cooking equipment. Although this may seem inconvenient . . . read more

November Birthdays

Deer Oaks EAP Monthly Newsletter

All UCO faculty and staff have access to the EAP through Deer Oaks. The EAP provides free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, prevention, and education services for you, dependents living at home or elsewhere, and anyone who lives in your household. View the monthly newsletter on the Hub.

Teach English in Austria with the US Teaching Assistant Program

Are you looking for an exciting job opportunity that allows you to explore a new culture while simultaneously gaining valuable first-hand classroom experience? US teaching assistants (USTAs) teach English in Austrian secondary schools for 13 hours per week while exploring the country
and its culture.

This program for US citizens is managed by the Austrian education ministry and administered by Fulbright Austria.

The online application tool will be officially open from 15 November 2023 to 15 January 2024, but applicants can start their applications now!

Fulbright Austria administers the US Teaching Assistantship Program on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF).

Swimming Can Be Fun TOO : )

by: Sarah Townsend

Are you a person who loves physical activity but often finds yourself loathing going to the gym? Do you love being active, but get stuck in a rut running/walking at local parks and trails? If this is you, LET’S TALK ABOUT SWIMMING. “When swimming, we may come close to this happy state and we can experience a deeply peaceful feeling, where time seems not to matter, and our worries are on hold. No wonder swimming is seen as a real antidote to so many chronic illnesses, including depression (MacDonald 2006).”

While the authors of this blog may have a bias towards swimming, most people would likely agree that swimming is a great way to add variety to a workout regimen and introduce fun and exciting movements that may prove difficult to achieve outside of the water.

Benefits of Swimming:

Improves Cardiovascular Health
Increases Muscular Strength
Increases Muscular Endurance
Helps to Maintain Muscle Mass
GREAT Way to Burn Calories

While the benefits listed above are only a short list, chances are that you will feel better too! Performing aerobic activities multiple times, a week has been shown in the ACSM Guidelines book as well (Liguori, Gary, et al. (2021). Luckily, if you are already following the ACSM Guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week you are off to a great start and can begin to implement swimming as you choose.

Swimming is also a great way to reach aerobic guidelines for people who have sustained an injury or have difficulty walking. Being in the water physically decreases the amount of weight or “load” you must carry due to Archimedes Principle. When your body is submerged in the water, it can give you a weightless feeling. There are different variations of activities you can do in the water. People can walk in the water, swim laps, or even add resistance by using water weights that float. For people with injuries, swimming can help with rebuilding the muscles around the injury with a low impact on the injury itself.

General Swimming Techniques and Ideas:

As previously mentioned, swimming is a wonderful way to create new workouts. Below are a few recommendations for beginners and those who have been doing this for a while.

NEVER SWIM ALONE

Even the most advanced swimmers should still swim in an area with a lifeguard on duty or with a friend who is also a strong swimmer.

Understand the four basic strokes: