Thrive at GVSU is a voluntary, confidential and free three month wellness coaching program available to all medical benefit eligible faculty, staff, spouses, and household members. Participants in the Thrive at GVSU program partner with a coach telephonically or virtually.

Grand Valley State University deeply values good health and well-being among its faculty and staff community. The goal of Thrive at GVSU is to encourage sustainable, healthy lifestyles that prevent chronic disease, health conditions, and emotional and financial stressors. The program aligns with the university’s strategic plan and healthy campus initiative.

This program is focused on prevention; coaching provides educational materials, referrals, and personal support with proven results. The materials and follow-up programs are available to help you feel well and are designed to work in partnership with your personal health care provider. The information is tailored to each individual's personal needs. Participants are encouraged to share their coaching experience and topics with their health care provider.

Thrive at GVSU is offered at no cost to medical benefit eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members.

No, participation is voluntary. However, the reward is only available to those who complete the program.

To enroll, opt-in during GVSU’s Benefit Open Enrollment in the fall. Coaches will begin calling members in November. Or, enroll any time after Open Enrollment by emailing our wellness coaching vendor. Participants must enroll by June 30th of the respective year to participate in the program to ensure time to complete the three month program within the program year.

For general Thrive at GVSU questions, please contact your HR Business Partner.

Trained coaches provide a confidential sounding board for a variety of physical, emotional, social, and other hurdles and help you reach goals. Coaching is conducted telephonically and/or online. Frequency of meetings is up to you and your coach during the coaching period. 

Coaching brings wellness to the individual level and helps participants work on specific areas that are important to them. The program is designed to meet participants when and where they are available.

Yes. The coaching staff holds credentials in dietetics, kinesiology, exercise science, health education and nursing. Coaches have received wellness and health coach training, and they’ve passed written and oral exams from a nationally recognized certification organization.

Yes, however, only one round of coaching is reward-able.

Yes. Coaching services are available in Spanish, English and French.

To protect your privacy, GVSU has contracted with The McCahill Group, a Michigan-based organization of wellness experts, to administer coaching.

Yes. Participation in the program is confidential and complies with HIPPA requirements. Grand Valley State University does not receive any personal information discussed in the coaching sessions. Content discussed is between you and your coach.

Information collected from Thrive at GVSU is treated as confidential. By agreeing to the privacy statement, you are allowing The McCahill Group to view your health questionnaire information and advise you on health improvement strategies.

No. Your results will not affect your insurance coverage or benefits, nor will they be disclosed to your insurance company or your employer without your permission.

No, the confidentiality of your personal health information is protected. 

Qualifying medical benefits-eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members can participate in Thrive at GVSU. Spouses, dependents and household members of faculty and staff who are not enrolled in GVSU's medical benefits program are not eligible for Thrive. 

Please note: If at any time your benefit status changes (leave of absence, appointment change, etc.), your eligibility to participate and receive the monetary reward may change.

If you are a qualifying medical benefits-eligible employee, you can participate in Thrive @ GVSU.

Please note: Spouses, dependents and household members of faculty and staff who are not enrolled in GVSU's medical benefits program are not eligible for Thrive. 

No.

If medical benefit-eligible, part-time faculty and staff can participate in Thrive at GVSU.

Please note: If at any time your benefit status changes (leave of absence, appointment change, etc.), your eligibility to participate and receive the monetary reward may change.

No.

To qualify for the Thrive at GVSU reward of a $100* gift card, you must complete one round of the three month program. Rewards are earned by meeting goals set between you and your coach during the three month program. Gift card is cash value and administered by our coaching vendor.

*Rewards are taxable. Also note, if a spouse or household member earns a gift card for participating, the employee will be taxed.

Research has shown that financial incentives and a supportive workplace are effective ways to achieve higher levels of participation. Research has also shown that high participation in wellness programs achieved through the use of incentives adds value for the organization and its employees. 

Upon completion of the three month coaching program, participants are eligible for the monetary reward. Please note rewards are taxable.

To enroll, opt-in during GVSU’s Benefit Open Enrollment in the fall. Coaches will begin calling members in November. Or, enroll any time after Open Enrollment by emailing our wellness coaching vendor. Participants must enroll by June 30th of the respective year to participate in the program to ensure time to complete the three month program within the program year.

No. Spouses and household members can participate and earn rewards.

Spouses and household members will receive $100 for completing a three-month session of the coaching program. Maximum rewards for the program are $100 to complete one round of coaching. Participants may complete multiple rounds of coaching at no cost, but are only rewarded with a gift card for the first round of coaching. Rewards are taxable.

Participants will redeem their gift card on the online portal.

Please note: If a dependent earns a gift card for participating, the employee will be taxed.

Thrive at GVSU is open to all benefit-eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members. If you are enrolled or eligible and waived benefits, the program and rewards are still available to you. Faculty and staff who are both married and a faculty or staff member at GVSU are each eligible for a $100 gift card as a benefit-eligible faculty or staff member. 

Please note: If this applies to you, please notify your HR Business Partner to ensure your employee files have on record your spouse who is also an employee with the university. This is to ensure proper administration of rewards.