"It is widely accepted that health and well-being are essential elements for effective learning."
El Ansari & Stock, 2010
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*Correction from last newsletter: The data citing that 23% of students report having lost someone close to them due to COVID is from the Spring 2021 National College Health Assessment survey, not Spring 2018.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on student well-being. In Fall 2020, a combined 63% of students said that their emotional well-being was worse than before the pandemic (Jed Foundation). While 76% of students say that they don’t anticipate that the COVID-19 will delay their graduation, the majority of students are concerned about feeling unmotivated, having difficulty concentrating, and their mental health for Fall 2021 (Student Voice Report). An Inside Higher Ed article by Mays Imad lists 13 actions faculty can take to help promote student mental health in the wake of pandemic trauma.
See the “Strategies” section below for some trauma-informed strategies from UC Irvine’s Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation.
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Announcements
Employee Wellness Offerings
Organizational and Learning Development offers weekly wellness sessions from 12:15-12:45 for faculty and staff. The two offerings for fall include Mazoezi-African Dance Fitness, taught by Maria Muganzo on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Asanas and Stretching, taught by Jennifer Park, DPT on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Faculty Learning Communities
The Center for Teaching and Learning is now accepting applications for the 2021-22 Faculty and Professional Learning Communities, including the Wellness in the Classroom FLC. Learn more about the FLCs and PLCs and apply here.
ASI Food Pantry
The ASI Food Pantry is now open Monday – Friday. Visit their website for current hours.
Student Health & Counseling Services Video
If you would like to orient your students to what Student Health and Counseling Services offers, we have created a short (7 minute) orientation video that you may share.
Nutrition Services at Student Health and Counseling
- Virtual, one-on-one Nutrition Peer Visits are available for enrolled students. Please consider offering extra credit for your students to attend. Students will learn about meal planning, eating on a budget, mindful eating, nourishing snacks, and much more at no cost. The first 20 students to make an appointment and attend a Nutrition Peer Visit will receive a prize. Students who attend two or more sessions this semester also will receive a prize.
- Request our “Building a Healthy Plate” presentation or a cooking demonstration for your class. For more information visit the Wellness Education Learning Outcomes page.
- Students who need medical nutrition therapy with a registered dietitian nutritionist can go directly to the SHCS Patient Portal to schedule an appointment.
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Strategies*
- Provide content information in advance. Consider using content descriptions if the content could be potentially triggering to students – for example, “This reading includes the author discussing ___. If you feel that reading the article would be triggering for you right now, here is the main take-away: ___. If you want to read the readings, some practices that people sometimes use to take care of themselves when they are feeling overwhelmed or triggered by content include deep breathing, feeling the ground under their feet, taking a walk outside, listening to music, stomping their feet or clapping their hands, or using the five senses to orient themselves to the room.”
- Encourage community building and a sense of belonging. Some ways to build rapport include learning students’ names/pronouns and conducting regular icebreakers, small group activities, and collaborative thinking exercises.
- Check in on students regularly. This can be done through class check-in activities or individually.
The full Wellness in the Classroom toolkit may be found here.
*Adapted from UC Irvine's Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation.
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Self-Care
The beginning of the semester is a great time to set up healthy habits. Nourish yourself well this fall by planning a few healthy meals and snacks, and thinking of ways you can incorporate some additional fruits or veggies into your day. Eatfresh.org is a great resource for affordable healthy recipes.
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Events
Sept. 7 – American River Cleanup, 1-3pm, Guy West Bridge
Sept. 7 – Hornet Nights Virtual Trivia, 7-7:45pm [Register]
Sept. 10 – Free rentals for students at the Aquatics Center
Sept. 13 – Free Grocery Pop-Up Pantry, 10:30am-1:30pm, Library Quad
Sept. 15 – Outdoor Clinic: Backpacking Nutrition, 12-12:30pm, Zoom
Sept: 17 – Feel-Good Friday: Good Vibez DIY Tie Dye [Register to get kit mailed]
Sept: 17 – Fun Friday: Yoga Hike, 4-6pm [Register]
Sept. 21 – Wellcome Back Virtual Trivia, 5-7pm, join anytime [Register]
Sept. 22 – Virtual Cooking Demonstration, 1:30-2:30pm [Register]
Sept. 23 – Sexual Liberation Jeopardy, 6-7pm, Zoom [Register]
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The "Wellness in the Classroom: Faculty Influence on Student Wellbeing and Success" project seeks to provide faculty with the tools and resources to create conditions for student wellbeing and optimal learning in the classroom.
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