How to create a happy campus

Advice from all corners of higher education on how to make your university a better place to work and study

They say that happiness is subjective, but after two years of teaching on Zoom, mandatory lock downs and isolation from the campus community, academics and university staff could be forgiven for wanting a little more of it in their lives. While the pandemic has pushed staff and student mental health and wellness higher up the agenda, most who work in the sector would attest that there is still a great deal to be done. From much-needed adjustments to research culture to the latest thinking around student welfare, this collection brings together practical tips and advice on how universities can create a more harmonious and enjoyable atmosphere on campus and online.

By Miranda Prynne, 10 February, 2022

From struggle to strength: positive psychological growth through teaching and assessment

Advice on designing pedagogies that encourage positive psychological growth among students after such a challenging period

Kathleen Chim and Benjamin Chan offer practical advice on creating meaningful pedagogies, assignments and assessments that promote positive psychological growth in challenging times

In the classroom

Resources

By dene.mullen, 2 February, 2022

Focused freewriting is the cure for students’ writer’s block

Freewriting is a useful exercise for university students to help cure writer's block

Freewriting for five minutes warms up the brain and begins to fill students’ blank screens with material that gets their writing going. Anne Carlisle talks through the process

By dene.mullen, 15 December, 2021

Why do we expect students to work well in groups if we don’t teach them how?

A group of university students arguing. We should teach students how to work together as a team

If we’re going to assign team projects, and if we really believe working well in a group is important, we must teach effective group processes, says Todd Zakrajsek

By Eliza.Compton, 8 February, 2022

How to facilitate the small changes in teaching that make a big difference

Two young women in eating sandwiches in park

Through their podcast, Alastair Stark and Sebastian Kaempf champion the ‘sandwich conversations’ between colleagues that lead to impactful incremental shifts in teaching practice

Reading time

4minutes

Getting students outdoors can be a huge boon for learning

By Miranda Prynne, 4 February, 2022

Bringing learning to life: nine tips for teaching in outdoor places and spaces

Advice for taking your university teaching out of the lecture theatre or classroom

David A. G. Clarke reflects on his experience of teaching in outdoor spaces and provides valuable tips on how to take higher education outside the classroom

By Miranda Prynne, 1 February, 2022

Unmasking the scientist: breaking down anonymity to build relationships when teaching online

Advice on breaking down student anonymity to build relationships when teaching online and in person

Simple solutions to link students’ names to faces and build a rapport with individuals in your class when teaching online, by Kelly Edmunds and Bethan Gulliver

Changes to research culture

Resources

By dene.mullen, 8 December, 2021

Researchers are too critical – we need to give ourselves (and others) a break

University researchers are too critical of themselves and others

It doesn’t have to be like this. Critical thinking means looking for the evidence – that is evidence both for and against, says Hugh Kearns

By dene.mullen, 18 November, 2021

Don’t believe the hype: being an ECR needn’t be a lonely existence

Being an early career researcher does not need to be lonely

Finding ‘PhD pals’ in the same boat, but also learning to communicate your work effectively outside the research bubble, is crucial for ECRs, says Rebekah Ackroyd

By dene.mullen, 9 February, 2022

Professors who ‘practise what they preach’ help humanise research management

Academics who practise what they preach will always be more effective in the classroom

There is a need in academia for professors to match teaching and research with professional practice – and be fairly compensated for it

Mental health is becoming an increasingly important issue for higher education and universities

By dene.mullen, 2 November, 2021

Three big mental health questions that academia must talk about

Higher education must face up to and answer some difficult questions over how it deals with mental health

A reckoning with how we handle mental health in higher education is long overdue, says June Gruber

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen, 21 May, 2021

The sector’s mental health workers need help too

Personal crises can strike students at any time, especially given the pandemic, and those who help them probably need help too.

More assistance must be offered to help students survive, let alone thrive – and the same goes for student crisis interventionists like me, says Lula Torres

Focus on students

Resources

By Miranda Prynne, 10 February, 2022

Building student social networks offline

Advice on helping students to form social bonds and join clubs and societies after two years of isolation

Becky Lewis explains how to purposefully encourage and support students in forming social bonds and groups after two years of remote learning, isolated from their peers and lecturers

By Miranda Prynne, 9 February, 2022

Are you optimising the user experience for your students?

Advice on applying user experience thinking to enhancing your student services in teaching and on campus

Kevin Curtis provides an introduction to simple user experience (UX) techniques that can help when considering how students and staff engage with higher education services and their campus surroundings

By Miranda Prynne, 1 December, 2021

Say my name: the importance of correct terms, titles and pronunciation

Advice on handling individuals' names with respect to create an inclusive learning environment

Jane Bryan shares lessons in handling people’s names with respect and sensitivity, ensuring correct use and pronunciation to boost feelings of belonging within institutions

Advice and tips for creating a happy campus at university for staff and students

By miranda.prynne, 20 August, 2021

A pedagogy of kindness: the cornerstone for student learning and wellness

Advice on developing a pedagogy with care and compassion at its core

Fiona Rawle outlines a pedagogy founded on human connection, care and compassion that improves student learning outcomes

By dene.mullen, 13 January, 2022

I took an alternative route to academic success – and I’m happier than ever

University academics can take risks to get to the top

I ignored senior management and marketing departments and experimented with making my work more accessible and interesting – it paid off, says Jonathan Wilson

Practical wellness advice

Resources

By dene.mullen, 4 February, 2022

Conversations around stress must move beyond ‘I’m fine, how are you?’

The stress continuum is a traffic light system that might help university staff and students discuss well-being

Sara Metz offers practical advice on adopting the ‘stress continuum’ – a shared language and system to help staff and students reflect upon and discuss their well-being

By Eliza.Compton, 8 February, 2022