This year, all first-year, full-time undergraduates received an Apple Watch as a part of their technology bundle, which previously included only a Macbook, iPad, and Apple Pencil. The addition of the watches is part of a new University initiative called Wellness at Moravian.
The program takes a holistic approach to students’ physical, mental, and emotional health. According to Scott Dams, vice president for Enrollment and Marketing Admissions, the watches complement Moravian’s other efforts to support students in staying healthy throughout their time at Moravian, such as counseling services, mental health resources, and fitness programs.
Health-wise, Apple Watches work to help students stay active, track fitness goals, monitor heart health, and boost well-being by encouraging them to stand, breathe, and stay active throughout the day, among other things. It’s especially important that college-age students monitor their vitals, given that cardiovascular events for individuals under 40 have nearly doubled since 2010.
“The Apple Watch’s ability to monitor heart rate and detect irregularities like arrhythmias is a feature we value,” said Dams. “It fits into our broader mission of student wellness, offering real-time health insights that could potentially lead to early detection of serious health issues.”
First-year student and track athlete Diego Portales utilizes his watch to track his heart rate while he works out, as well as to observe his recovery time and the distance/speed he runs.
The watch has other benefits, too, he said. “For academics, I can check some things on my watch, like my grades, email, etc. I can also set timers for when I study and do laundry.”
The watch boasts a number of features that can help students organize tasks and manage their time. For example, students can track their schedules, set reminders for deadlines, and collaborate through communication tools, such as messaging and email.
Combined, all those features make the Apple Watch “a tool for both personal wellness and academic success,” said Dams.
The watches have been integrated into the Moravian system to be used as a wearable, electronic version of the student ID. Students can use the watches to access buildings and purchase food with Dining Dollars.
Apple has just started working with Moravian’s athletic coaches to explore how they can work with student-athletes to monitor their health and maximize performance on the playing field.
Only first-year students are eligible to receive the watches, for which they are not being charged an additional technology fee. In a show of support for the program, Moravian’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the funding through the University’s pocket – not the students’.
Moravian was approached by Apple executives in March of 2024, inviting the school to be the first to partner with Apple to provide watches for students and the first to do so within a wellness initiative.
“Moravian University has always been a pioneer in leveraging technology to enhance education. The Apple Watch initiative is just one example,” said Dams. “We aim to be at the forefront of integrating new technologies into the classroom and beyond.”
By focusing on the importance of technological skills in a society where they are becoming more crucial, the administration strives to prepare students for the workforce through tools like wearable tech, learning management systems, and AI-powered technologies.
Apple has honored Moravian as a Distinguished School three times consecutively, most recently for 2024-2027. President Dr. Bryon Grigsby has been asked to present at the Apple Distinguished School Leadership Conference in October.
As an Apple Distinguished School, Moravian has a platform to showcase how Apple products and equal access to technology can transform the learning environment and support student success. This recognition brings more visibility to Moravian, as indicated by Grigsby’s October keynote and Apple’s approaching Moravian to be one of the first schools to participate in this partnership.
“This [program] is an extension of a vision that [Grigsby] established in creating equal access and opportunity across the Moravian community,” said. Dams. “It’s amazing to see how this has grown over the last ten years.”
