Wellness Trail

Green Revolving Fund
In 2016, the University of Mount Union’s Board of Trustees showed a continuing commitment to sustainability by approving a Green Revolving Fund (GRF) to be used for energy-related projects on campus. The internal fund is used to cycle back savings from energy efficiency improvements to fund new projects in the future.

Hydration Stations
Hydration stations are provided in buildings across campus.  These stations provide convenient hydration to faculty, staff, and students with a rapid fill of filtered water and eliminate plastic water bottle waste.

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LED Lighting
In 2016, the Operations Sub-committee of SMAC set a goal to convert all campus lighting to LED. The conversion of the Dewald Chapel has been the most dramatic, with a reduction from 34,100 watts to a mere 2,780 watts – a decrease of over 31,000 watts.

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Chapman Hall
Dedicated on December 1, 1864, and formerly known as “College Hall”, Chapman Hall was completely rebuilt in 1966-1967. The oldest building on campus, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Chapman houses the humanities. Listen for the bells in the north tower, which tell time to this day.

Tree Campus USA
Mount Union has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA since 2010 for its commitment to effective urban forest management. Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation. This program was created to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for involving staff and students in conservation initiatives. The UMU campus boasts well over 1,300 trees.

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Roadway Elimination
Mount Union has taken steps to convert its campus from one dominated by automobiles to one that is pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. Since 2012, Mount has eliminated traffic on three internal roads (Miller, College, and Hartshorn) and moved student parking to the perimeter of campus. These initiatives have resulted in increased wellness by creating additional green space, increased walking and biking, and reduced emissions from transportation.

Information Technology
Information technology (IT) purchases energy-efficient hardware and products from vendors that promote sustainability. They continue to improve server technology using a combination of storage area networking (SAN) and virtualization. IT developed policies for energy saving practices on campus computers and initiated a pay-to-print program, reducing paper waste.

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Landscaping
When did you last take a moment to smell the flowers, appreciate a tree, or notice the colors on a bug? Flowers, grasses, and trees bring life to our community year-round. The Riggs Memorial Plaza was created to expand green space and make the campus more pedestrian-friendly.

Founding Monument
Mount Union was founded in 1846 by Orville Hartshorn to be “a place where men and women could be educated with equal opportunity, science would parallel the humanities, and there would be no distinction due to race, color, or sex, or position.” On October 20, 1846, this young man organized and taught on the third floor of the “Old Carding Mill” a “select school” of six students. The school grew rapidly under his inspired leadership, and in 1849, it became known as “Mount Union Seminary.” His statue stands near the Gardner Welcome Center to greet all prospective students and their families.

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Gartner Welcome Center
The Gartner Welcome Center is a LEED Silver building – the first in the City of Alliance. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building rating system. The green building attributes include a geothermal heat pump, zero use of CFC refrigerants in the HVAC system, automatic lighting controls, large use of materials with significant recycled content, higher glazing in windows, low-flow fixtures, and high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems. UMU has committed to building new structures to LEED standards.

Pavilion
Why not add a good five-minute stretch to your wellness routine?  The pavilion next to the Gartner Welcome Center offers a stunning view of the lakes. 

Stop to Stretch

Public Transportation
SARTA (Stark Area Regional Transit Authority) bus stops are strategically located near campus (State Street and Union Avenue) to allow the UMU community easy access to public transportation. SARTA representatives are invited to campus to speak to students about bus passes and routes.

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Columbian Gate
The iconic Columbian Gate, built by a gift from the class of 1858, frames the picturesque lakes and welcomes all into the Mount Union community.

Ermlich Art Plaza
What would you draw or paint to best capture the feeling of this picturesque location? The Ermlich Art Plaza holds space for student creativity in the beautiful outdoor patio adjacent to the lakes and the Giese Center. 

Campus Lakes
The campus lakes, constructed roughly in the shape of an "M", have reflected the beauty of the campus since 1916. Generations of students have shared kisses and future plans on the bridge, and popular events such as the ArtFest in fall and Light Up the Lakes in spring are set against this beautiful backdrop.

Giese Center for the Performing Arts
Art connects us to what is possible, and just 20 minutes of creativity per day strengthens brain health. The Center for the Performing Arts is named in honor of Dr. Richard F. and Sandra L. Giese in recognition of their exceptional service to the University from 2005 to 2015. 

Butterfly Garden
The Eckler Garden was a gift from alumni in 2000 and serves as both a Shakespeare and Butterfly Garden due to the variety of plant species present. Butterfly gardens have intrinsic, aesthetic, educational, scientific, ecosystem, health, and economic value. Butterflies are the third most common pollinator behind bees/wasps, and flies, and serve as an indicator species, one that tells us about the health of our environment.

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Amphitheater
The Amphitheater was installed in August 2022 in the southeast corner of the lakes, thanks to a gift from the Class of 1972. It may be used as an outdoor classroom or performance area. Outdoor learning combines awareness of the natural beauty of our world with our core mission of preparing students for fulfilling lives, meaningful work, and responsible citizenship.

Hammock Garden
When was the last time you climbed into a cozy hammock?  Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is produced naturally by soaking up sunshine. The Hammock Garden was installed in August 2022 between Elliott Hall and the northern part of the campus lakes. Students at Mount Union can check out a hammock at the Library and relax outdoors with a book. 

Lamborn Plaza
Lamborn Plaza marks the site of Lamborn Hall, built in 1914 and replaced in 1983 by the nearby Tolerton and Hood Hall.

White Roof
Tolerton and Hood Hall has a white roof. It is painted with a solar-reflective white coating and reflects up to 90% of sunlight (as opposed to traditional black roofs, which reflect only 20%). White roofs reduce summer energy use by 10-40%, saving money and preventing pollution.

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Bike Fix-It Station
To accommodate the increase in bicycling on campus, more than 240 bike racks have been installed.  In 2015, a Bike Fix-it Station was installed that includes all the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes and derailleurs.

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Board Games
Who doesn't like a great game? Students at Mount can check out a board game or work on a puzzle at the Library and build community through constructive play.

Oak Hall: LEED Certification
Oak Hall, home to the School of Engineering and School of Business, was built in 1958 and renovated in 2010 to meet LEED Silver building standards for sustainability.

Memorial Plaques and Bell Tower
Soldiers Memorial Hall, which was built in 1921 in honor of the 687 men and women from the Mount Union family and the other 1,965 from the Alliance area who took part in uniformed service during World War I, was replaced in 1996 due to declining conditions. The plaques commemorating the service of local soldiers were moved around the Bicentennial Belltower.

Volleyball Courts
Interested in intramurals? The sand volleyball court outside Ketcham Hall is available for pick-up games or intramural team practice. Students at Mount Union may check out a volleyball at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex (MAAC).

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Quad
Ever feel like spreading out a blanket and taking a nap under a tree? Green spaces promote walking, resting, and mental clarity, enhancing the well-being of everyone in a community. The quadrangle in the heart of campus also supports events such as the annual fall Raiderfest, where students at Mount Union explore opportunities for extracurricular engagement. 

Patio and Warming Towers
The Patio on the Simpson Street side of the Hoover-Price Campus Center is available for campus groups to meet and gather. Fellowship, networking, and belonging can be found in this beautiful and quiet outdoor space.

Wayne Manzilla Center
At the University of Mount Union, we continuously strive to welcome, accept, and respect all people. We actively promote an environment that encourages mutual respect and positive engagement to effectively enrich learning and living for our students, faculty, staff, administration, and community. Belonging and engagement programming advances this commitment.

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WRMU FM 91.1
Since 1966, award-winning WRMU has been “the Radio Voice of Mount Union.” Did you know that WRMU is online? Listen up, get inspired, and move to the sound of our student-run radio station.

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Whitehill Tennis Courts
The University's six tennis courts, gifted by the late Mr. C.E. Whitehill of Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1946, were relocated to the open space behind Bica-Ross Hall in 1999.

EV Chargers
EV Charging Stations are open to the community as a partnership between Mount Union and Lavery Automotive Sales and Service.

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Dewald Chapel and Memorial Tree
The Dewald Chapel is the spiritual center of campus. Just a few moments of quiet contemplation every day creates a sacred space for connection, renewal, and growth.

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Fire Pits
Outside the Hoover-Price Campus Center, facing the chapel, several fire pits were made possible by gifts from the classes of 2023 and 2024. Students and campus groups at Mount Union can use the fire pits to gather on a cool evening and enjoy a toasted marshmallow snack.

AVI Foodservice
AVI, the food service on campus, is a leader in environmental accountability and incorporating sustainability objectives into its business. Reducing their environmental footprint and integrating sustainable practices is one of their corporate goals.

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Painted Rock
Mount Union’s Rock, also known as “The Rock,” a prominent landmark located at the east end of the Quad, is a gathering spot for students and is painted for celebrations, events, and expressing school spirit. Legend has it that “The Rock” began as a small pebble and has grown to its current size due to the enormous layers of paint.

Residence Halls
How do you experience community here at Mount? Traditional residence halls, such as King Hall, serve mainly first-year students along with some upperclass students in single rooms. Suite-style residence halls, such as Bica-Ross Hall, are home to mainly upperclass students, and University-owned apartments and townhomes are reserved primarily for juniors and seniors.

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Recreational Courts
How high can you jump? Near King Hall, outdoor basketball courts are available for recreation, practice, or a pick-up game with friends. Nearby, two pickleball courts have been gifted by the class of 2025 and a matching gift of Ben ’96 and Torie Utterback. Students at Mount Union can check out a basketball or pickleball equipment at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex (MAAC).  

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Cloister
The Chapman Hall Cloister includes a water pump, recalling the days when such a simple act of drawing water literally brought the community together. A memorial tree nearby stands in honor of Professor Paul H. Chapman.

Kehres Stadium
The oldest college football stadium in the state of Ohio, the stadium was built in 1913 and rededicated in 2022 to honor Larry Kehres, head football coach from 1986-2012 and athletic director. Mr. Kehres holds the record for the highest winning percentage as a head coach in college football (all divisions) at .929.

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Solar Panels
In 2010, the Peterson Field House became the home of the largest application of a thin-film laminate solar voltaic array in Ohio. A total of 230 feet of the south-facing roof is covered by the 18-foot X 15.5-inch solar panels. Each panel is less than an eighth of an inch thick and is fastened to the metal roof with an adhesive. Overall, they make up a 54-kilowatt system and produce enough energy to power seven average-sized homes for one year. There is also a 1-kilowatt solar panel on the HPCC.

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McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex (MAAC)
What brings out the best in you? The McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex (MAAC) houses the Department of Exercise Science, Sport, and Nutrition, as well as the sport business program. Students at Mount Union can find a variety of resources here for health and wellness, including recreational facilities and equipment. The MAAC also has an array of sports equipment and yard games such as pickleball, cornhole, basketballs, footballs, frisbees, tennis rackets, volleyballs, soccer balls, jump ropes, kickballs, and bases that can be checked out by Mount Union students at the front desk.

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Mount Union College
The institution, then known as Mount Union Seminary, was chartered as Mount Union College on June 9, 1856, and was redesignated as the University of Mount Union in 2010. The plaza in front of the McPherson Academic and Athletic Center was made possible by a gift from the Herbert Hoover Foundation.

Office of the President
The University of Mount Union has taken a leadership role in sustainability for higher education. In 2007, a Sustainability Task Force, composed of representatives from the student body, administration, faculty, and the Alliance community, was established, and then-President Richard F. Giese signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), making the University of Mount Union a signatory institution. In 2010, the Sustainability Management Advisory Committee (SMAC) was created with the purpose of assisting the President and the President’s Council in executive-level, strategic sustainability decisions. In 2015, President W. Richard Merriman recommitted Mount Union to achieving climate neutrality by signing the new Carbon Commitment, and President Gregory L. King continues to carry on the tradition of green practices today.

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Procurement 
The Office of Purchasing seeks to provide the University with sustainable purchasing alternatives that are economically viable and meet the social equity and environmental values of the University. In 2008, a Green Sustainable Purchasing Policy was adopted and continues today.

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Bioswales
Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water. Bioswales are used around the parking lots of the Union Avenue Townhouses, Beeghly Hall parking lot, and at the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center. The bioswales treat the runoff before releasing it as stormwater.

Regula Center and Raiders Cove
The Regula Center is home to a variety of community-based opportunities that allow students to experience engaged, informed citizenship, a value of sustainability. Home to the Dowling Mentor Program, Regula Scholars, Sophomore Service Honorary, and the Continued Learning Program, the Center provides a wide range of programming for our students and the community.

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EV Chargers
EV Charging Stations are open to the community as a partnership between Mount Union and Lavery Automotive Sales and Service.

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SAGEP Lab
The Structural and Geotechnical Engineering and Projects Lab supports research in the School of Engineering.

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Esports Center and Melvin J. Snode Golf Facility
The Mount Union Esports Center and Melvin J. Snode Golf Facility support student-athletes on our esports and golf teams. Rostered student-athletes have keycard access to this facility to practice and perfect their craft, with a production room set up to livestream events.

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