Case Study: Washington University achieves stronger workplace community and increased employee fitness with Health Enhancement Systems' custom Couch to 5K Challenge

WashU Cultivates Community, Fosters Fitness With Custom Couch to 5K Challenge

Washington University sought a way to bring a largely remote workforce together around fitness and community. The Human Resources Wellness Team partnered with Health Enhancement Systems to build a custom WashU Couch to 5K Challenge — a tailored well‑being campaign with custom design and content, integrated promotion tools, and a mobile app, developed with input from the university’s Physical Therapy program and its Wellness Connection Champion Network.

Health Enhancement Systems delivered the custom challenge and campaign platform, helping Washington University engage 2,556 employees across 220 teams, contribute to the Virtual 5K Run4Research (raising more than $10,000), and achieve a 62% overall completion rate; 69% of participants downloaded the mobile app, 77% had at least one friend in the program, and 53% joined as teams. The Health Enhancement Systems‑supported program raised reported activity (76% agreed or strongly agreed their daily activity increased), strengthened community connections, and produced clear participation and retention metrics to guide future initiatives.

Washington University

Nikki Hafner

Wellness Program Lead