Coming Soon: LearningWell Magazine
Growth is good. All of us at MCI are excited to announce that we will be launching a new magazine, called “LearningWell,” a publication with news, ideas, data and perspective on the promotion of mental health and life-long wellbeing through higher education. Our partner on LearningWell is the Coalition for Life Transformative Education (CLTE), a group of big thinkers dedicated to helping students find identity, agency, purpose, and wellbeing during their lifetime.
We will use profiles, features, research translation and op-eds to cover a range of topics, including student mental health, teaching and learning, equity and access, and human flourishing. We are starting with a strong base of dedicated readers and contributors, interested in and/or working towards helping students thrive, both in college and throughout their lives. While we will no longer publish the Mary Christie Quarterly, this new publication will continue our strong focus on student mental health and the scalable solutions that are emerging in this area, and will expand that coverage to include new ideas and perspectives on making the college experience a foundation for personal growth and life-long wellbeing.
The first issue of LearningWell will be out in July, 2023.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
The surging visibility of mental health challenges in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to what one expert is calling the country’s “behavioral health awakening,” The New York Times reports. Yet the growing prevalence of mental health problems and help seeking has also made clear the dearth of facilities and care options for those struggling. This week, The Times delves into ongoing efforts to develop behavioral health centers that could reduce strain on existing systems and improve accessibility to care.
Other News
After Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman discussed entering treatment for depression in February, several other leading legislators have opened up to ABC about their mental health struggles.
An op-ed in The Chicago Sun Times highlights the implications of the student debt crisis as a public health concern, given the link between high debt and mental and physical health issues.
In The Hechinger Report, a professor from the University of Texas at Austin writes about his experience abandoning grades, noting how students became less stressed and more engaged.
Fortune Well addresses the anxiety college applicants face at this time of year, as they find out whether they’ve gained admission to their schools of choice, and offers several ways to support them through rejection.
Inside Higher Ed features the Butler University Institute for Well-Being’s unique approach to assessing student mental health needs: asking the students themselves to evaluate their institution’s support resources.
For Inside Higher Ed, a clinical psychologist reviews her major takeaways after attending the University of Michigan’s Depression on College Campuses conference, touching on issues from preventative care to emergency responses.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As more legislators around the country demand public colleges report spending on DEI programming, the future of these initiatives can seem bleak at best. Yet The Chronicle explores how university administrations in some states are not only encouraging these practices but requiring them. In Washington state, faculty have been participating in law-mandated DEI and anti-racism training since 2021.
After her son was the target of antisemitism at High Point University, a mother says she was forced to alert the media for the school to adequately respond, The News & Observer finds. The university made no effort to find out who drew a Swastika on her son’s dorm room door until two weeks after the fact, the mother said, once she had reached out to news outlets about the issue.
Student Buzz
The Daily Wildcat covers the challenges that out-of-state students at the University of Arizona face upon leaving home for college and how some try to combat homesickness.
The Yale Daily News reports on the recent gathering of mental health advocacy forces from across the community, including the Yale College Council, the Yale Student Mental Health Association and alumni group Elis for Rachael.
According to The Ithacan, a recent meeting of the Ithaca College Faculty Council delved into mental health concerns of both students and faculty, including how faculty can use campus resources to support students.
Academic Freedom
After Stanford law students protested the visit of a conservative federal judge, Dean Jenny Martinez criticized the “hecklers” for their refusal to hear from someone with whom they disagreed. “I believe that the commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion actually means that we must protect free expression of all views,” she wrote in a ten-page memo. The New York Times asks whether the Dean’s response will have a meaningful influence on (quelling) the fierce debate now surrounding academic freedom.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
Inside Higher Ed breaks down President Biden’s proposed change to Title IX, which would forbid “blanket bans” against the engagement of trans students in sports. Instead, efforts to block trans students from participating would need to “set sport-specific criteria that take into account ‘important educational objectives’ as well as the level of competition and education level of those involved.”
Student Success
Given the droves of community college students struggling to graduate on time or at all, The Hechinger Report spotlights a support initiative helping at-risk students combat typical barriers to success. In Alabama, success coaches working for the three-year-old program SENSE provide academic advising, career counseling, and more.
The New York Times examines the accessibility issue for low-income students hoping to land major tech internships, which some say favor wealthy graduates from elite institutions. At Bowie State, a historically Black college, The Times notes that an in-house internship placement program is helping guide students through the competitive recruitment process and matriculate to top tech companies.
College Affordability
Higher Ed Dive covers the lawsuit major online program manager (OPM) 2U is bringing against the Education Department, having accused the agency of overstepping its bounds upon imposing new regulations on relationships between colleges and third-party servicers. The Department’s guidance now considers any OPM providing retention and recruitment services a third-party servicer and therefore liable for federal student aid and subject to additional regulations
Substance Use
While binge-drinking remains a pervasive problem on college campuses, more students today seem to be questioning the role of alcohol in their lives and choosing to abstain as a result. The Chronicle explores how colleges can support the increasing number of students choosing not to drink, including with sober spaces and other campus-sponsored events.
Campus Safety
College students in Florida seem unphased, The Gainesville Sun reveals, by the possibility of losing access to the popular social media app TikTok. Security concerns prompted legislators to ban the app on the state’s public campus Wi-Fi networks. “I don’t really care,” one student said. “I’ll just turn off my Wi-Fi and use it on campus.”
After several violent incidents plagued Miami Beach this March, The New York Times reports city leaders are initiating new efforts to curb the infamous spring break festivities. City commissioners countered this year’s transgressions with a state of emergency and midnight curfew. Now, they’ve already announced a curfew for next year, hoping to stop spring break 2024 before it starts.
