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Printmaking Volunteer Story ..Althea Murphy-Price works with a student in a School of Art classroom inside the Art and Architecture Building on April 02, 2019. Photo by Steven Bridges....Outstanding Impressions

Fostering the Volunteer Experience

In fall 2021, the University launched a new strategic vision that seeks to create a universal Volunteer Experience for undergraduate students. A variety of campus activities, and student success opportunities, have been developed to support this new Volunteer Experience. At the same time, instructors can play an important role in positively influencing our students’ Volunteer Experience through contributing to student well-being. Research shows that having an intentional focus on student well-being in the classroom can enhance student learning, and increase their ability to thrive in the classroom. This new webpage provides resources to help faculty integrate pedagogical strategies focused on student well-being into their courses.

Certificate Program

Fostering the Volunteer Experience: Using Well-being to Improve Learning is a self-paced, asynchronous program that contains 6 modules designed to introduce participants to well-being pedagogy. The certificate focuses, in particular, on one model of well-being, PERMA, which is well-suited for the classroom context. 

List of Resources

Fostering a Growth Mindset in the Classroom: This document provides key information on ways to foster a growth mindset inside the classroom such as using inclusive language and encouraging reflection.

Fostering Positive Emotions in Academic Settings: This document covers how to foster positive emotions from students in academic settings. Some key attributes include learning how to foster hope and amusement in the classroom.

Using Strength-Based Strategies in your Course Design: This document includes 4 strength-based strategies to use in your every day courses, including using CliftonStrengths as a key tool.

PERMA Fostering a Well-Being Classroom: PERMA is used as a model to help explore, define, and practice well-being in various environments. To help you foster well-being in the classroom, consider the five elements of PERMA and evidence-based teaching strategies to support each element.

4 Steps to Avoid Deficit Thinking: This document offers suggestions that will
help you challenge your own deficit thinking and integrate a more strengths-based
approach into your course activities.

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