Individual Fellow Initiatives
Longhorn Mindfulness Project
Cohort: 2022
Fellow: Tolga Ozyurtcu
This project focuses on mental health on campus. Specifically, the mental health and self-regulation challenges that mindfulness practices have been empirically shown to address: anxiety, depression, focus, and procrastination. There is strong empirical support for these benefits emerging around the 8-week mark of regular practice (10-15 minutes per day), which is feasible in the confines of the semester calendar.
The “Social/Wellness Module:” Providing Space for Wellbeing and Social Learning for Incoming UT Students
Cohort: 2022
Fellow: Marina Alexandrova
My project addresses the lack of built-in social/wellness-oriented interactions in introductory courses for
Student Success and Well-being
Cohort: 2020
Fellow: Nina Telang
My project is designed to support engineering students primarily in their freshman and sophomore years, when they struggle the most, resulting in high failing rates. Students do not always implement the best study strategies as they transition from high school to college, and do not prioritize their self-care and well-being. College level coursework is significantly more difficult compared to high school level courses and require more critical and abstract thinking.
Learning To Just Do It: Get ‘Em While They’re Figs
Cohort: 2016
Fellow: Dixie Stanforth
Freshmen, often overwhelmed by perceived barriers of time, motivation, and knowledge don’t remain active, leading to weight gain and associated physical and emotional issues. Regular physical activity directly and positively impacts physical and emotional well-being and transfers to better scholastic outcomes. KHE majors need practical experiences to develop skills to develop programs that match personal goals and fitness levels. This project was unique in that it meets an identified need for freshmen and KHE majors.