Faculty Resources

UT San Antonio Faculty Guide: Supporting Student Well-being in the Classroom

Well-being Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 22! 

This university-wide initiative is a celebration of the 8 dimensions of well-being: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. As educators, we know that student success depends on more than academic ability.

We invite all faculty from all disciplines and campuses to join in the celebration by incorporating a small wellness-focused activity into your class the week of October 20. Whether it's a reflective journal, a discipline-specific discussion, or extra credit to attend a Well-being Day event, your participation signals to students that their well-being matters.


Ideas for Faculty to Integrate Well-being into the Classroom

Emotional Well-being

  • Offer a 5-minute guided breathing or journaling activity at the start of class.
  • Assign a short reflection on how students manage stress in relation to their field of study.
  • Let students know that you care about them with an encouraging email or announcement.
  • Highlight the TimelyCare information in Canvas.

Environmental Well-being

  • Ask students to assess the sustainability of a product, policy, or practice related to your discipline.
  • Encourage a "clean your study space" challenge and share before/after pics for extra credit.
  • Begin class with a "nature moment" - share a calming nature video or photo or ask students to recall a favorite outdoor place.
  • Have students complete a brief activity using EPA's Carbon Footprint Calculator or the Ecological Footprint Calculator.

Financial Well-being

  • Ask students to research average salaries in careers related to their field and create a basic budget for post-graduation.
  • Host a brief discussion or share resources on student loan literacy, cost of living, or negotiation skills.
  • Post a Canvas announcement with links to scholarships available in your college or field. The UTSA Scholarship Hub is a great place to start.
  • Inform students about the emergency financial resources available to them.

Intellectual Well-being

  • Invite students to attend a Well-being Day talk, workshop, or cultural event and write a short reflection.
  • Create space for a class debate or discussion that promotes curiosity and respectful dialogue.
  • Share information about your academic college’s Student Success Center with students or encourage them to attend an SSC event.

Occupational Well-being

  • Assign students to complete a relevant microcredential through UTSA’s free courses on LinkedIn Learning or Coursera. Remember to list it on their resume.
  • Ask students to draft LinkedIn profiles or resumes.
  • Share information about the University Career Center including workshops and resources.
  • Host a brief panel or video on how professionals in your field manage work-life balance.

Physical Well-being

  • Offer a stretch break or walk-and-talk discussion during class time.
  • Encourage attendance at a fitness or movement-based Wellbeing Day activity for participation credit.
  • Post the link to Campus Recreation on Canvas and remind students that they have a free membership while enrolled in classes (https://campusrec.utsa.edu/).

 


Social Well-being

  • Incorporate a peer appreciation activity into class (e.g., each student writes a note of encouragement to another).
  • Create small-group check-ins to foster connection and support within your class.
  • Share a list of the student organizations that are relevant to your field and encourage students to get involved. See a full list on RowdyLink.
  • Pair and share: ask students to introduce themselves to the person sitting next to them and find commonalities.

Spiritual Well-being

  • Invite a short reflection on purpose, values, or what gives students a sense of meaning.
  • Offer a moment of quiet at the beginning or end of class to pause and center.
  • Share a fascinating fact or insight from your field that highlights the wonder, interconnectedness, or beauty of the world.
  • Connect students who are interested in volunteering with the Student Involvement Center.

Your engagement matters!

Even one small gesture can reinforce that wellness and learning go hand in hand. Let’s work together to make Wellbeing Day a meaningful and inclusive celebration of our students' growth inside and outside the classroom.

Questions or want help brainstorming? Reach out to erica.wallace@utsa.edu or jill.ford@utsa.edu


Additional Resources

UTSA

Classroom

Tools

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