Transformative approaches to radical wellbeing in higher education

Abstract

Our global community collectively faces important ecological, social, public health and economic challenges. One of the major setbacks for learning and creativity that we face at our institution is high levels of stress and anxiety not only amongst our students, but our faculty as well. We believe that faculty and student wellness and success are interdependent. In order for faculty to apply caring pedagogy, to recognize the impact of stress on learning, and to help their students be well, they must be given the opportunity to examine and cultivate their own wellness. This paper outlines our institution’s incorporation of wellbeing research and our shift during the COVID-19 pandemic to a series of resilience-based programming approaches for faculty.