The bottom lines for ISU is that institutional emphasis on well-being has decreased at ISU over the last 10 years. This trend mirrors trends in overall satisfaction with ISU and with college choice. An emphasis on well-being is associated with belonging and retention.
The implication for action is that students view well-being as a holistic part of the entire college experience, not limited to specific activities or units. Opportunities to enhance well-being exist in the classroom, in advising, interactions with administrative offices, and even physical spaces.
ISU students who experience well-being and belonging are finding it in specific experiences in program and units, but generally not in broad, institution-level experiences. Without an evaluation of program-level experiences, it’s difficult to know if they are effective. It’s also a missed opportunity for units to learn from each other. The results and best practices have nowhere to go.
Students who can’t find that specific unit-level academic or co-curricular experience witness less belonging and well-being.
We tend to think of well-being as something specific units do, like counseling or recreation. Or that interventions work best when centered around colleges and programs. Students, on the other hand, view well-being as a holistic part of the entire college experience, not limited to specific units.
The analogy of a house is useful when analyzing student success. If emphasis and resources are over-emphasized on individual rooms (units, colleges, programs), the house (the institution) might be overlooked. For students who find their room, the siloed approach works well. However, many students never find their room. They wander aimlessly, muddle through, and eventually leave. Read more about these students in this profile: The Lives of ISU Students as Homeowners, Visitors, & Tenants.
Building collaborations and increasing communications could help. But without sharing evidence-based best practices and evaluation results – to the extent that evaluation is even done – I don’t think communication and cross-unit meetings by themselves affect change.
Student comments about well-being are at the end of this post.
Three data stories
What do students say?
- Students who report that ISU places a high emphasis on well-being focus on student involvement, positive interactions with professors, diversity, and campus resources.
- Students who report that ISU places a low emphasis on well-being focus on a lack of interaction with other students, low classroom interaction, and diversity.
Students who feel ISU places a high emphasis on well-being
“One thing that should not be changed is the professors, all of which whom I’ve had have been very kind understanding and great teachers.”
“One thing that shouldn’t be changed is that amount of RSOs. Everyone will find something they enjoy and it improves mental health which improves academics.”
“One thing that should not be changed is the RSO’s and (on campus jobs that) introduce different opportunities to people of cultural backgrounds different to what we are accustomed to, (such as) people with disabilities, and those who come from low income houses who may not have the same privileges as those who come from higher income (backgrounds).”
“Something that shouldn’t be changed is our ability to get help from professors inside and outside of the classroom. As well as all the resources that we can get from all different people for classes, time management skills, and personal health.”
Students who feel ISU places a low emphasis on well-being
“Employ interactive group work to increase likelihood of friendship making. A class or lecture (should not be) a dead silent classroom where its awkward.”
“Lecture halls should be grouped. I would not change the class size.”
“Adapting the education system to the students rather than the students to the education system. Accommodate for the students’ needs and wellbeing. It needs to be more personalized so we don’t feel like we’re just yet another student. We need to feel heard and understood.”
“I think that the school needs more Hispanic and Latinx events, I feel like it’s just the organizations making these events but I don’t feel like anything on campus really represents me.”
