Healthy Universities:

Transcription

1 Healthy Universities: Beyond mental health for a holistic approach to student wellbeing and success Dr Helen Stallman The University of South Australia

2 Overview What do we mean by healthy universities? An ecological approach to student outcomes Example of student centered approach to student success Discussions

3 What is student success? What factors contribute to student success?

4 Bronfenbrener s ecological framework for human development

5 Factors affecting health of universities Policy and Funding University Individual

6 Policy and Funding University Individual

7 Factors affecting health of universities Policy and Funding University Individual

8 Birth cohort increases in psychopathology college students Narcissistic, self-centred, and antisocial, and often do not follow the rules and standards of society Often fight with family members or authority figures Sensitive and sentimental Unrealistic positive self-appraisal, overactivity and low self control Depression (Twenge et al, 2009)

9 Student competencies necessary for success: Social and language skills Emotional self-regulation skills Independence skills Problem-solving skills (Sanders and Ralph, 2002)

10 Social and language skills Expressing views, ideas and needs appropriately Requesting assistance and help when necessary Cooperating with others Being aware of the feelings of others Being aware of how one s own actions affect others

11 Emotional self-regulation skills Expressing feelings in ways that do not harm others Controlling aggression, impulsiveness and risk-taking behaviour Maintaining positive feelings about oneself and being able to develop positive feelings about others Accepting reasonable rules and limits

12 Independence skills Able do things for oneself Completing tasks and being involved in activities Being responsible for one s own actions

13 Problem solving skills Showing an interest and curiosity in everyday things Asking questions and developing ideas Considering alternative solutions Negotiating and compromising Making decisions and accepting consequences

14 Stress Perceived discrepancy between the physical and psychological demands of a situation and a student s perceived biopsychosocial resources to deal with those demands

15 Factors affecting health of universities Policy and Funding University Individual

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18 The ubiquitous factors

19 Boozy student pub crawls carry on despite death of Bond University girl Bonnie Whitehead GREG STOLZ THE COURIER-MAIL AUGUST 24, :00AM The pub crawl which led to her death was part of Bondstock, an annual festival run each September by the Bond University Student Association and sanctioned by the university. A university spokeswoman said the uni had considered withdrawing support for the pub crawl. "But it was clear that the students would arrange their social activity irrespective and hence we decided the best approach was to work with them," she said.

20 Bronfenbrener s ecological framework for human development

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22 Resilience is the capacity to adapt well over time to life-changing or stressful situations

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25 How healthy is your college?

26 Strategies to promote student success

27 Prevention Programs Aimed at empowering students to: Be resourceful, Identify and build on strengths, Solve problems Manage unpleasant emotions.

28 Whose goals are they anyway? Outcomes Retention, Student satisfaction success Evidencebase Personal and University professional activities competencies Support development University Actions responsibilities of competencies

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30 Characteristics of universal interventions to promote student success: Change student trajectories Remove stigma Inclusive of all students Promote academic achievement Promote self-management skills Promote wellbeing Minimally sufficient Sustainable

31 Teaching Learning Support Wellbeing

32 Prevention strategies Just in time Student focussed Low intensity Low in cost Student University Community

33 Student reflection System Interface Student feedback THE LEARNING THERMOMETER Support and interventions

34 Support: Promoting self-management skills Things People Resources I who can I do: can access: help:

35 Student reflection System Interface Student feedback THE LEARNING THERMOMETER Improvements in teaching practices Teacher feedback Support and interventions

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38 Overcoming obstacles

39 Challenges being student centered Teaching Learning Support Wellbeing

40 Discussion question How could your college better integrate teaching, learning, support and wellbeing to provide a healthy environment for students and staff?

41 Implications Focus on promotion of success rather than problem management Closing the loop between learning, teaching, wellbeing and support More resilient students Better student graduate capabilities OPTIMISE LIFELONG SUCCESS FOR GRADUATES

42 Contact Details Dr Helen Stallman thedesk The Learning Thermometer