The authors summarize data-backed teaching practices that support elements of student wellbeing, including supportive mentorships and experiential or authentic learning opportunities. Six exceptional initiatives are described, which can act as models for prioritizing student wellbeing. Examples include a digital storytelling project at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, research learning experiences for first-year students at the University of Maine, and Stanford University’s “Designing Your Life” course. The authors present the reader with a set of guiding principles for higher education institutions seeking to put student wellbeing initiatives in place. The authors argue that additional research on the funding, design, implementation, and assessment of programs is needed. According to the authors, it is imperative that universities prioritize student well-being, which will require the adoption of transformative pedagogical practices. Read the article here.
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The St. Thomas Purpose Project aims to bring together faculty and staff leaders across the university to engage collaboratively, with the goal of reaching all students with a sense of purpose and vocation.
University of St. Thomas President Robert K. Vischer emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We know from surveys that many young people today are suffering from a lack of purpose and meaning in their lives, and that void contributes to the mental health, loneliness, and hopelessness crises pervading our campuses and boding ill for our country’s future. At every St. Thomas new student orientation, we share our aspiration for each of them: that they emerge from their time with us with the unshakeable knowledge that they are loved, that their lives have purpose, that their work has meaning, and that they have been gifted by God to make irreplaceable contributions to our world. We reject the notion that higher education institutions must become transactional, focused only on providing job skills as efficiently as possible. While preparing students for professional success is important, instilling a sense of purpose alongside employment readiness is imperative.”
Key Initiatives of the St. Thomas Purpose Project include:
Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition for Transformational Education, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We are honored to welcome the University of St. Thomas to our Coalition. The St. Thomas Purpose Project is a shining example of how institutions can take proactive steps to foster a deeper sense of purpose among their students. We look forward to supporting St. Thomas in this transformative endeavor and sharing the insights gained with our broader community.”
About the Coalition for Transformational Education:
The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters well-being and work engagement throughout life.
About the University of St. Thomas:
The University of St. Thomas is the largest private university in Minnesota. Founded in 1885, St. Thomas has campuses in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Rome (Italy), serving more than 9,000 students pursuing more than 200 undergraduate and graduate degrees. St. Thomas is a mission-based organization recognized for its extensive alumni network, best-in-class job placement rates and excellent student experiences, including more than 140 student clubs and a flourishing NCAA division-1 athletics atmosphere. Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. As a Princeton Review Top 50 Green College, US News & World Report Best Value University and the only university in Minnesota to be designated a Changemaker Campus, St. Thomas is uniquely positioned as a leader in higher education. To learn more, please visit stthomas.edu.
]]>The Coalition for Transformational Education is excited to welcome Kent State University as its newest member. Joining the Coalition through their innovative Student Life Study, Kent State is set to make significant contributions to the understanding and enhancement of student wellbeing during the transition to college and beyond.
The Kent State University Student Life Study will follow 10,000 undergraduates through graduation and beyond, aiming to better understand the risks and protective factors influencing mental, physical, occupational, and social health during the critical transition to college and into young adulthood. Utilizing advanced research methods and cutting-edge technology, the Student Life Study collects unprecedented data on the day-to-day experiences of modern college students. This research infrastructure also allows for the delivery of personalized, smartphone-based interventions to promote student well-being and success, with the goal of providing the right intervention to the right person at the right time. The data collected is continuously used to refine these interventions, optimizing their impact on mental and physical health, academic success, social connectedness, and a sense of belonging. The findings from this study will be shared with university officials, providing timely insights that can inform policy decisions in near-real time.
“Kent State has a strong commitment to promoting student well-being, sense of purpose, and belongingness,” said Melody Tankersley, Senior Vice President and Provost at Kent State University. “In fact, the first words of the guiding principles for the university are ‘Priority 1: Students First – ensure Kent State is a university where students thrive, belong, graduate, become engaged alumni and lifelong learners committed to a life of impact.’ The recently-launched Student Life Study embodies this commitment and combines the elements of a longitudinal research study and personalized wellness intervention program.”
In addition to close collaboration with university administrators, the materials and methods developed through this study will be freely shared with colleges and universities nationwide, fostering a network aimed at enhancing the college experience for millions of students.
“The Kent State University Student Life Study is a groundbreaking initiative that aligns closely with the mission of the Coalition for Transformational Education to inspire the academy to prioritize wellbeing,” said Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition. “We are thrilled to welcome Kent State University and look forward to the valuable insights and innovations their study will bring to our community.”
About the Coalition for Transformational Education: The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Through collaboration, experimentation, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition aims to bring transformational educational experiences to students everywhere.
About the Kent State University Student Life Study: The Student Life Study is a first-of-its kind program to connect all aspects of college life – mental and physical health, social belonging, academic and career success, equity and inclusion, among many, many others. Their primary goal is to improve students’ lives while they are here at KSU and as they continue beyond
Contact:
Dana Humphrey
Associate Director
]]>The Coalition for Transformational Education (CTE) is excited to welcome the University of Denver (DU) as its newest member. DU joins the Coalition through the groundbreaking 4D Experience, a university-wide strategic initiative dedicated to preparing students for lifelong learning, engagement, and thriving.
Established in July 2021, the 4D Experience is led by the Provost and the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. This initiative engages faculty and staff across the university in conversations, programs, and initiatives aimed at enhancing student thriving by facilitating engagement with four key dimensions: intellectual growth, well-being, character exploration, and purpose. Through signature experiences, mentorship, and reflection, students gain the opportunities, relationships, and skills necessary to develop the foundations for their own flourishing and to contribute to thriving communities and societies.
“One of our top strategic imperatives as a university is our commitment to providing students with a unique, global and holistic experience by helping them thrive academically, personally, and professionally,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Clark. “Creating life-transformational educational experiences is directly aligned with our Four-Dimensional (4D) Experience model. We see experiential learning, mentorship, and reflection as the drivers of 4D and have worked with faculty and staff to ensure we are embedding these elements across the arc of a student’s experience.”
The 4D Experience at DU embodies the Coalition’s mission to bring life-transformative experiences at scale for students, delivering on the promise of higher education. “We are thrilled to welcome the University of Denver to the Coalition for Transformational Education,” said Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition. “University of Denver’s 4D Experience aligns extremely well with the Coalition’s mission, and their dedication to fostering intellectual growth, well-being, character, and purpose connects directly with our goals. We believe their innovative approach will inspire and enrich our entire community, helping to raise the standard for what transformational education can achieve.”
About the Coalition for Transformational Education: The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Through collaboration, experimentation, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition aims to bring transformational educational experiences to students everywhere.
About the University of Denver: The University of Denver, through its 4D Experience, is dedicated to preparing students for lifelong learning, engagement, and thriving. By focusing on intellectual growth, well-being, character exploration, and purpose, DU creates a unique educational approach that develops the whole person, preparing students to be leaders and engaged citizens.
Contact:
Dana Humphrey
Associate Director
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ONU’s membership in the Coalition is marked by the launch of a pilot project focused on creating an immersive, design-focused experiential learning opportunity. This innovative pilot is designed not only to provide impactful experiences for students but also to explore pathways to sustaining such transformative educational practices long-term, ensuring that future generations of students continue to benefit from these enriching experiences. Past similar initiatives at ONU have significantly enhanced students’ sense of belonging and agency, and this project aims to build on those successes.
“We are excited to welcome Ohio Northern University to the Coalition for Transformational Education,” said Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition. “ONU’s dedication to experiential learning and its strategic vision for student success make them an excellent match for our Coalition. Their pilot project promises to provide valuable insights into sustaining transformative educational experiences, furthering our shared goal of delivering life-changing education to students.”
ONU’s strategic plan states, “Our purpose is to give all our students access to great careers and flourishing lives,” reflecting a deep commitment to student success that resonates with the Coalition’s objectives. By joining the Coalition, ONU strengthens its resolve to create educational environments that nurture student wellbeing, engagement, and achievement.
About the Coalition for Transformational Education: The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Through collaboration, experimentation, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition aims to bring transformational educational experiences to students everywhere.
Ohio Northern University: Located in Northwest Ohio, Ohio Northern University is a private institution that offers distinctive, nationally recognized programs of study that prepare students to lead, excel and serve throughout the world. In 2024, ONU graduates enjoyed a 96% placement rate in full-time jobs and graduate school admissions. The University and its academic programs are consistently ranked as being among the best in the region, state and nation by entities such as the Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report. ONU’s 3,000 students are enrolled in more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs offered within the colleges of Arts & Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Business Administration and Law. To learn more, visit www.onu.edu.
Contact:
Dana Humphrey
Associate Director
]]>The Lead Like a Ram program, named after ASU’s beloved mascot, was established by the Leader Development Council at ASU. In the spring of 2023, the council selected twenty-four junior-year students to participate in this innovative program, which emphasizes experiential, scenario-based learning. Participants engage with required readings from influential leadership authors and receive personal professional coaching. The programs’ graduates are now serving as mentors for participants in the second cohort, enhancing their sense of belonging and wellbeing.
The Texas Tech University System is working to establish a sustainable values-based culture across its five universities, identifying the shared core values deeply held by faculty, staff, and students, and integrating those values into a people development framework that impacts participants’ lives and those they influence. “Our programs are designed to positively impact faculty, staff, and students as they develop to be stalwart leaders of character who thrive as individuals while also building healthy organizations,” said Steven R. Sosland, Vice Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System.
“We are excited to welcome the Texas Tech University System to the Coalition for Transformational Education,” said Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition. “Their comprehensive and values-based approach to leadership and character development complements our mission to foster lifelong wellbeing and work engagement through transformational education. We look forward to learning from their experiences and integrating their insights into our collective efforts.”
About the Coalition for Transformational Education: The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Through collaboration, experimentation, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition aims to bring transformational educational experiences to students everywhere.
About Texas Tech University Leader & Culture Development office: The Leader & Culture Development office supports the values-based culture and leadership initiatives for the TTU System and its component universities.The Leader and Culture Development office offers services to the TTU System Administration and to component institutions of the TTU System related to people development and integration of culture based on the shared core values of each individual university or system entity.
Contact:
Dana Humphrey
Associate Director
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April 8, 2024
The Coalition for Transformational Education is thrilled to announce that the University of Miami has joined as its newest member. The Coalition, a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to evidence-based, learner-centered education that lays the foundation for wellbeing and work engagement throughout life, welcomes the University of Miami through its innovative Cane Commitment program.
The University of Miami’s Cane Commitment is a trailblazing framework that recognizes and integrates the curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular experiences at UMiami essential for students to become effective, empathetic, and engaged graduates. The Cane Commitment framework guides students to master six core competencies both in and out of the classroom: ethical judgment, professionalism, problem solving, reasoning, multicultural fluency, and civic-mindedness. This holistic approach allows students to navigate campus resources and opportunities, fostering a sense of ownership over their undergraduate journey.
“Developed and designed by our faculty, in conversation with our Student Affairs professionals, this new program seeks to render visible and tangible the commitment that we make to each of our students,” said Guillermo (Willy) Prado, PhD, Interim Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost at the University of Miami.
Cane Commitment offers a compelling value proposition to prospective students, alumni, and employers by ensuring that every University of Miami graduate possesses a comprehensive suite of intellectual, professional, and interpersonal capabilities. This initiative not only enhances the individual student experience but also strengthens the university’s reputation for producing well-rounded and highly capable graduates.
“We are delighted to welcome the University of Miami to the Coalition for Transformational Education,” said Keith Buffinton, Executive Director of the Coalition. “Their Cane Commitment program exemplifies the kind of innovative, student-centered approach that aligns with our mission. We look forward to collaborating with them to further advance transformational education and create a future where all students graduate college on a strong path toward lifelong wellbeing.”
About the Coalition for Transformational Education: The Coalition for Transformational Education is a group of leaders in higher education dedicated to promoting evidence-based, learner-centered education that fosters lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Through collaboration, experimentation, and the sharing of best practices, the Coalition aims to bring transformational educational experiences to students everywhere.
About the University of Miami: The University of Miami is a private research university located in Coral Gables, Florida. Known for its diverse academic programs and vibrant campus life, the University of Miami is committed to developing future leaders through its innovative and holistic educational initiatives, including the Cane Commitment.
Contact:
Dana Humphrey
Associate Director
We are thrilled to announce that the American Society of Engineering Education is doing an article on the Coalition for Transformation Education and are allowing us to share it here.
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