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.

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