Mental health and well-being

Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff to create a happier, healthier campus. Find out how universities and academics can promote well-being, protect their campus community from spiralling stress, minimise the risk of burnout and build resilience - from institutional practices that create a culture of care to personal self-care tips and healthy habits for overworked academics and students.

Advice on providing comprehensive support for remote students through academic advising

Building a community of support for remote students through academic advising

Janet Morrison details academic advising strategies that keep students feeling connected and supported throughout their educational journeys when learning online

Janet Morrison

Champlain College Online

The word ‘play’ and a downward arrow in neon

Ready, player one? How video games can help engage students

Engaging, rewarding and a great way to encourage active participation, games are a brilliant addition to a teaching and learning environment, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Advice on developing a pedagogy with care and compassion at its core

A pedagogy of kindness: the cornerstone for student learning and wellness

Fiona Rawle outlines a pedagogy founded on human connection, care and compassion that improves student learning outcomes

Fiona Rawle

University of Toronto Mississauga

Summer of love

We must help our students make this a ‘summer of self-love’

It would be wise to keep an eye on our students over the coming months, as the period after lockdown typically brings intense emotional responses, says Bertus Jeronimus

Bertus Jeronimus

University of Groningen

Advice on successfully scaling up student support services

Scaling up student support services

Suzanne Mitchell advises on how to scale up student support services, using technology that provides multiple communications channels and early warning systems to assist specialist staff teams

Suzanne Mitchell

Arden University

Advice for welcoming students back to campus

How universities can support students’ return to campus post-pandemic

Danielle McDonald and colleagues share advice on how universities can approach welcoming two student cohorts to campus for the first time, staying mindful of the vastly different attitudes among students relating to the post-pandemic transition

Danielle McDonald, Anita Sahgal, Jennifer DiPrete, Allison Crume

University of South Florida

We must admit that things are and have been bad during the pandemic and realise that people are at different stages of comfort with others

My first post-Covid conference showed me we need to prep for the campus return

At this conference, faculty were like the walking wounded, but we can and should learn from it because our students deserve our best selves, says Flower Darby

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Three things to consider ahead of returning to campus

Three things to think about when returning to campus

Emily Walker puts forward three key considerations to help staff mentally prepare themselves for returning to a campus that may have a very different look and feel

Emily Walker

Liverpool John Moores University

Universities are heading for a mental health crisis following the pandemic, so they need to start preparing now

A student mental health crisis awaits. Here’s how we avoid a bad fall

Extra funding should be requested now to staff up wellness centres, counselling centres and campus ministries, says Todd Zakrajsek

Todd Zakrajsek

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A stressed student prepares for an online exam. Assessment online brings a new set of problems for academics to be aware of

Are online exams better for student mental health?

Traditional exams under tightly invigilated conditions are highly stressful for students, but online alternatives bring their own issues, says Michael Priestley

Michael Priestley

Durham University

A female student logs in to a virtual campus.

Socialising is hugely important, but virtual campuses help learning, too

The social elements of university help students succeed academically, so we must start transplanting them online, says Elizabeth Lehfeldt

Elizabeth A. Lehfeldt

Cleveland State University

Advice on how faculty should be mindful of their attitudes in order to ensure better outcomes or reaction to challenges

How resetting motivations can help faculty achieve better teaching and well-being during challenging times

Faculty members’ personal motivations impacted their attitudes towards meeting the challenges of the pandemic, and in turn, their well-being and teaching quality, research suggests

Martin Daumiller, Raven Rinas, Julia Hein, Stefan Janke, Oliver Dickhäuser, Markus Dresel

University of Augsburg, University of Mannheim

Time pressure. Many in academia are putting in huge numbers of hours that are not rewarded or even recognised

Recognition of academia’s ‘invisible labour’ is long overdue

We must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions, on par with teaching, research and management, say Shari Boodts and Fleur Jongepier

Shari Boodts, Fleur Jongepier

Radboud University

Learn how instructor featured videos can give your remote learning students a much needed sense of connection

More screen time: using instructor-featured video to create connection online

Aaron Smith explains why instructor-featured videos are such a powerful tool for keeping remote-learning students grounded and for providing a sense of human connection, based on his research

Aaron Smith

University of Waterloo

Steps universities should take to prevent cyberbullying among students

How to prevent cyberbullying from rearing its ugly head in universities

Christy Cheung presents preventive measures universities should take to tackle cyberbullying among students working online

Christy Cheung

Hong Kong Baptist University

Personal crises can strike students at any time, especially given the pandemic, and those who help them probably need help too.

The sector’s mental health workers need help too

More assistance must be offered to help students survive, let alone thrive – and the same goes for student crisis interventionists like me, says Lula Torres

Lula Torres

InsideTrack

Guidance on designing online courses for learning and well-being

Designing online courses for better learning and well-being outcomes

Matthew Barr describes how to design and deliver online teaching to support better learning and well-being for students who might otherwise feel isolated and disconnected

Matthew Barr

University of Glasgow

Designing and delivering courses to meet students emotional needs

Supporting students’ emotional needs in distance learning

Yanfang Si shares simple online teaching methods to make students feel connected and supported and so help meet their emotional needs from a distance

Yanfang Si

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Taking a human approach to providing support for student well-being online

Using online coaching to support student well-being

Helen Duff explains how a human approach to providing support online, in the form of coaching sessions, can have a powerful impact on student well-being

Helen Duff

Arden University

An atmospheric theatre. Beware the futility of wellness theatre

Beware the futility of higher education’s wellness theatre

Surface-level emphasis on self-care without discussing systemic problems in HE runs the risk of gaslighting students who face very real barriers, says Fiona Rawle

Fiona Rawle

University of Toronto Mississauga

Investigating academic misconduct takes time and resources. The latter are sorely lacking and it is students who bear the brunt of the delays

We ignore the administrative load caused by cheating at our peril

The switch online has brought renewed scrutiny of misconduct, but without adequate resources, the real losers are our students, says Amanda White

Amanda White

University of Technology Sydney

A computer lover embraces his machine. But cybersecurity is not just for the geeks in the IT department.

Cybersecurity is not just for the geeks in the IT department

Our first-year university students might have received no education on cybersecurity since the age of 13, say Andy Phippen and Emma Bond

Andy Phippen, Emma Bond

Bournemouth University, University of Suffolk

Advice on online teaching techniques that promote student well-being

Online teaching tips to support student well-being

Natalie Kopytko provides practical tips to address student well-being via online teaching practices that can also benefit faculty

Natalie Kopytko

University of Leeds

How to build resilience by taking on an explorer mindset

Developing an explorer mindset to build resilience

Developing an ‘explorer mindset’ can help faculty and students build resilience by moving from fear to curiosity, as Portia Hickey explains

Portia Hickey

Thrive Matters

An empty university lecture hall. The sector should come together to welcome students back to campus.

The sector should come together to welcome students back to campus

Universities wasted a lot of time developing individual online transition resources last year. Let’s not make the same mistake again, says Donna Murray

Donna Murray

The University of Edinburgh

A guide to introducing compassionate communication into your online teaching

Embracing a compassionate approach in higher education

Caroline Harvey and Frances Maratos explain how to embed compassionate communication into higher education when teaching online

Caroline Harvey, Frances Maratos

University of Derby

Tips on addressing student anxieties in the online learning space

Supporting students with Covid-related anxiety when teaching online

Helping students manage their anxieties is good pedagogy as it helps them learn. Alexandra Dufresne shares her tips for making students feel supported in the online learning environment

Alexandra Dufresne

Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)

Using storytelling to boost student resilience and sense of connection online

Using the art of storytelling to help students build resilience when learning online

Judith Francois describes how she facilitates storytelling via online channels to help students build resilience and feel more connected

Judith Francois

Kingston University

Advice on ensuring the human side of teaching is not lost in the move to online education

Leading with humanity in your online classroom: Tips beyond tech

How to ensure the human side of teaching is not lost and that pedagogical practices promoting care drive decisions when instructing online, from research by Mary Candace Raygoza, Aaminah Norris and Raina León

Mary Candace Raygoza, Aaminah Norris , Raina León

Saint Mary’s College of California

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Understanding attrition: what can be done to reduce student dropouts post pandemic?

How has the pandemic affected student dropout rates? And what can universities can do to boost student retention now and in the future? We discuss student attrition with a panel of experts from the UK and Australia

Sally Kift, Jacqueline Stevenson, David Woolley

The Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows, University of Leeds, Nottingham Trent University

Advice on managing strong emotional responses to difficult student communications

It’s been emotional: how to manage difficult student interactions

Student advisers often bear a heavy emotional burden when trying to assist students. Meg Cohen offers advice on how to manage such emotionally challenging situations

Meg Cohen

Georgetown University

Wellbeing pedagogies to boost the student experience online

Well-being pedagogies: activities and practices to improve the student experience online

With many concerned about the mental health effects of learning remotely, Elena Riva shares helpful practices that can boost student well-being in the online teaching and learning environment

Elena Riva

The University of Warwick

Podcast discussing building resilience and protecting well-being among university staff and students

THE podcast: building resilience and well-being among university staff and students

How university leaders and faculty can manage workloads and protect the well-being of staff and students to ensure online teaching is sustainable

Thuy Thi Nguyen, June Gruber

Foothill College, The University of Colorado Boulder

How universities can offer students a rewarding university experience online

How to offer students a rewarding university experience online

Successfully teaching online is just one part of the battle to serve students remotely. Here David Woolley talks about what more universities can do to give students a fulfilling experience when they cannot attend in person

David Woolley

Nottingham Trent University

Advice on supporting the well-being of overworked academics

Supporting academia’s well-being during Covid-19 and beyond

With an unprecedented global mental health crisis and rising stress among university staff, six academics come together to propose how best to support faculty and new ways of working now and well beyond the pandemic

June Gruber, Lisa Miracchi, Sabrina Marques, Kirk Ambrose, Becca Ciancanelli, Paulo Boggio

The University of Colorado Boulder, University of Pennsylvania, Western Connecticut State University, Mackenzie Presbyterian University

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

How to manage your busyness to avoid burnout

Overwork and stress are growing issues among academics, particularly following the sudden transition to online teaching. Erin Wilson talks through how she manages her busyness to avoid burnout

Erin Wilson

University of Groningen

What to consider when personal tutoring remotely

Points to consider when personal tutoring remotely

With many remote students feeling anxious, personal tutors are often the first port of call. Michael Draper talks through things to consider in order to maintain a supportive and helpful relationship with tutees from a distance

Michael Draper

Swansea University

Take steps to ensure a safe and respectful online learning environment through good ‘netiquette’

Netiquette: encouraging good behaviour in online classes

Online teaching can blur boundaries between home and university, so lecturers must take steps to ensure a safe and respectful online learning environment through good ‘netiquette’. Sam Smidt and Joanna Stroud explain how

Sam Smidt, Joanna Stroud

UCL

Build peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Building peer support networks to help staff navigate digital teaching

Kay Yeoman and Alicia McConnell explain how the University of East Anglia has used peer support networks to ensure all university staff have access to the advice, support and training they need to deliver quality online teaching

Kay Yeoman, Alicia McConnell

The University of East Anglia

Step away from your screen over the Christmas break

Five ways to embrace a non-traditional end to a non-traditional year

The overhaul of higher education due to Covid-19 has made 2020 a very challenging year for university staff. Wendy Zajack offers advice on how faculty can put the Christmas break to good use and return feeling refreshed for 2021

Wendy Zajack

Georgetown University

Tips for training university staff in digital teaching skills

Steps universities should take to support staff with digital teaching

For many academics, the move to online education has been a leap into the unknown. Gunter Saunders explains what institutions can do to support and train staff in this new mode of teaching, for the present and future

Gunter Saunders

University of Westminster

Advice for stressed academics on managing workloads

This is not normal: advice for stressed academics

With the overhaul of teaching, soaring workloads, childcare demands and other challenges presented by Covid-19, many academics are at risk of burn-out. Psychology professor Jay Van Bavel outlines steps that stressed lecturers can take to manage workloads

Jay Van Bavel

New York University

Providing pastoral care for students in the digital classroom

Pastoral care for students in the digital classroom

Providing the pastoral care students need can be difficult when teaching remotely. Here, Chris Headleand offers tips on looking out for students’ general well-being when limited to online communication

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

How the Open University of Hong Kong is offering socio-emotional learning to protect student well-being

Socio-emotional learning online: boosting student resilience and well-being

The Covid-19 crisis has led to worsening mental health and increased stress among students. Kathleen Chim talks about how the Open University of Hong Kong has tried to build students’ mental resilience through socio-emotional learning

Benjamin Tak Yuen Chan, Kathleen Chim

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Encourage students to take their online learning outside

Take your online teaching outside

Being outdoors can offer students and teachers dozens of benefits, from improved learning outcomes to better mental health. Aimée Little talks about taking online classes outside

Aimée Little

University of York

University leaders discuss the challenges and lessons from rapidly moving their services online

On the leading edge? Transitioning to digital campuses during a global crisis

Four university and college leaders share insight on transitioning to digital services during the Covid-19 pandemic and discuss what they have learned

Douglas Becker, Freeman Hrabowski, Susan McCahan, Thuy Thi Nguyen

Cintana Education, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Toronto, Foothill College

How university staff can avoid digital burnout when teaching online

Tips on avoiding digital burnout after moving all your teaching online 

Many academics are at risk of "burnout" after working around the clock to move their courses online. A tweet on this subject sparked a flurry of responses offering advice and solutions to faculty overwhelmed by heavy workloads

Miranda Prynne

Campus

Illustration of a man sitting on an hourglass

How Duke Kunshan University transitioned to online learning in two weeks

Faced with the rapid spread of Covid-19 on its doorstep, Duke Kunshan University in China decided to move all its teaching online in just two weeks to finish the third term. Here, we look at how this was achieved and the lessons they learned

Kevin Guthrie, Catharine Bond Hill, Martin Kurzweil, Cindy Le

Ithaka S+R , Duke Kunshan University

How universities have tried to enhance the student experience after moving virtually all their campus activities online

THE Student success forum: taking student life online

Student affairs leaders from four US universities share insight on how they enhanced the student experience after Covid-19 forced virtually all their campus activities to move online

Martino Harmon, Erin Hoffman Harding, Nancy Young, Beth McCuskey

University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Purdue University

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