Flu season is just around the corner, and ACC hopes to help you avoid the high fevers, fatigue, muscle aches, and severe headaches that often come with the flu. Getting your flu shot also protects those around you such as infants, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems who are more vulnerable to getting the flu. So, roll up your sleeve and sign up for your flu shot at the ACC Flu Shot Clinic on your campus, where the flu shot is available and FREE for employees with ACC’s BCBS-TX Health Select insurance. Click HERE for dates and times for each campus.
Register here to make your appointment! Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, we will be requiring appointments this year, but there still may be a short wait. Please be sure to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Walk-ins will NOT be accepted, so be sure to reserve your spot, and stick to your scheduled time for your appointment. To expedite the check-in process, please be sure to have your BCBS Insurance Card AND your Driver’s License.
B12 shots will also be available upon request for $25 (CASH ONLY) if you are interested and registration for these can be completed at the registration link above as well. To learn more about flu shots in general, please review information on the Centers for Disease Control’s website HERE. You are also encouraged to consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to your personal health.
If you cannot make one of the flu shot clinics scheduled for Austin Community College, below are some additional options available to HealthSelect of Texas® or Consumer Directed HealthSelectSM participants for getting a flu vaccination:
Most primary care providers and retail health clinics (located in pharmacies or grocery stores) offer flu shots. The flu shot is covered at 100% through your HealthSelect plan benefits when you see a provider or go to an in-network clinic. For help locating in-network providers, you can call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant toll-free at (800) 252-8039 (TTY: 711), Monday—Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT.
You can also get the flu vaccine through your HealthSelect prescription drug program (PDP) benefits. For more information about HealthSelect PDP benefits or for help locating an in-network pharmacy, you can call the HeathSelect of Texas PDP toll-free at (855) 828-9834 (TTY: 711).
For any questions, please reach out to Mauri Winters at mmiculek@austincc.edu or 512-223-7577. We hope to see you soon on a campus near you!
Let’s kick up the fall semester a notch with the return of our Virtual Exercise Classes! That’s right…our amazing wellness instructors will be back on September 7th with virtual wellness classes available FREE to all ACC employees.
Check out the Fall schedule HERE to view and access these classes, and be sure to mark your calendar with your favorite classes to join! In fact, you can click HERE to add the shared Wellness Calendar to your Google Calendar for easy access to these classes and other wellness program offerings. Classes will start next week on Tuesday, September 7th! Click HERE for a description of classes and instructors.
Instructor Meet & Greets:
Want some additional motivation, or a chance to learn more about each of these classes? Join in on one of the Wellness Instructor Meet & Greets! This is a chance to get to know some of the instructors, ask any questions you may have about the classes and provide input into what you’d like to get out of the class.
Thursday, September 2nd at 5:30pm
Friday, September 3rd at 12pm
Click HERE during either of the above sessions to join the Zoom!
Please be sure to Register HERE prior to attending any classes. While there is still no attendance requirement, this form is required for participation in the fall semester classes. You may sign up for as many classes as you plan to attend using one form, and can even edit to add new classes as desired. This form contains the official class waiver and provides us with a way to communicate important information regarding the classes throughout the semester.
Alternative Options:
We hope to see you in a class soon, but if you don’t have time for a full class or can’t make it during the scheduled times, we’ve included some links below to work exercise and stretching into your daily routine. Perhaps you can do these during your 15-minute breaks each day!
Also….Did you know that Mindfulness has not only been proven to help people manage stress, but can also help to improve productivity, reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, decrease anxiety and depression, and improve immune function. Why not give it a try? Click HERE for some resources on Mindfulness including links to guided meditation and breathing activities. There are also several apps you can download with free daily practices.
Reach out to Mauri Winters at mmiculek@austincc.edu if you have any questions or concerns. We hope you will join us, and see you in class this semester!
Overall top “stars” for the ten-week challenge were:
This year marked the 6th offering of the “Become an ACC Exercise Star” Challenge coordinated by the ACC Employee Wellness Program to promote increased activity among our employees. 495 ACC faculty and staff participated this spring, of which 323 employees completed the challenge by meeting the goal for their activity level. This is a completion rate of 65.3%, and 7.4% more than last year! We also welcomed 131 new participants to the challenge this year.
The Challenge ran from February 1 through April 11, 2021, with the added challenge of not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2 weeks of a Texas Icepocalypse.
Together, employees logged a whopping 1,067,893 total minutes of exercise which equals 741 days of continuous exercise. That’s over 2 years of exercise!
ACC President, Dr. Richard Rhodes, congratulated and presented awards for the Top Individual Stars and Most Active Campuses via a livestream virtual awards celebration on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s challenge and we look forward to seeing you again through other challenges throughout the year and back for more Exercise Stars in 2022.
Overall top “stars” for the ten-week challenge were:
On Friday, April 26th, ACC hosted the inaugural Employee Wellness-Fest 2019!
Nearly 200 employees came together to celebrate wellness across the district with field day games, exercise demos, health and wellness information tables, and even a new campus competition, the Campus Wellness Cup. Smiling faces were seen throughout the Eastview courtyard as employees were able to get in some physical wellness, engage with their peers from the different campuses and strengthen those bonds between colleagues.
Dr. Richard Rhodes presented the Exercise Stars awards as a part of the event recognizing the top 3 overall individuals from each fitness level, as well as the top 3 Campuses with the most minutes. Wellness Champions from each ACC campus helped put this event together and the Eastview Campus staff worked especially hard to prepare for the big day! Finally, 19 vendors from both the college and the community came out for the event to provide information regarding services related to employee wellness. Several of these vendors, as well as many other local businesses provided wonderful prizes to be won as well.
Congratulations to the Eastview Campus for taking home the first ever ACC Campus Wellness Cup!
Which campus will be ready to capture this honor next year and take home this fantastic trophy at the Wellness-Fest 2020? Yes…we are looking forward to the opportunity to repeat this event again next year, and hope you will be sure to join us again then!
Here are a few pictures from the event, but you can view all pictures in the Photo Gallery!
Employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthSelect coverage may take advantage of these wellness programs, most at no additional cost. For additional information about these BCBS programs, log into your BCBS account.
