happiness playbook for a campus
TRANSCRIPT
Happiness Data Playbook for a
Campus
What does happiness have to do with any
of this?
What does happiness have to do with any
of this?
Over 50 campuses have gathered data using the Gross National Happiness Index. They have their scores. They are asking:
WHAT NOW?
The Happiness Data Playbook for a Campus is a guide for students, faculty and staff to take action for happiness, sustainability and resilience based on their Gross National Happiness Scores.
Standard of Living/Material Well-being/Economy
Happiness science tells us that our happiness is impacted more by what our wealth is in comparison to others than the amount of goods or our wealth alone. In addition. There are many positive connections with greater income equality including health, psychology and safety.
The Easterlin Paradox tells us that happiness increases greatly as your salary increases up to a certain point – about 75K for a family of four no matter where they live in the US. After this, there are only marginal and diminishing returns to happiness as income increases. The Easterlin Paradox is true for countries across the globe, although the amount varies. Note that short term happiness does increase with a big win or boost in salary, but will return to prior levels in 2 weeks – 6 months.
Your campus average scores for standard of living/material well-being may be high, but if you look at specific populations or the difference between those who self assess high and those who self assess low, you will find a large spread, with some scoring themselves as low as 1 others as high as 9.5 or even 10.
And studies tell us that everyone’s wellbeing increases when no one in an area is suffering economically. In other words, as the gap between rich and poor decreases, everyone’s happiness increases.
“High Paying Jobs” is often the answer to alleviate economic suffering. Happiness data helps to point to the populations the jobs will most help.
Something Administration Can Do:Flexible Meal Plan
Design a system in which students only pay for what they eat, have a longer meal time period, and are able to use their meal plan at local groceries or even farmers markets.
Example Meal Plans: http://www.wiu.edu/student_services/dining/mealplans.php http://www.middlebury.edu/studentlife/dining/worksFlatiron Meal Plan: http://www.flatironmealplan.com/
Something Students Can Do:Don’t Take College Loans
Student loans can often seem the best option at the time but can quickly become overwhelming. Apply to grants and scholarships, save from summer jobs and work during college, and take more credits during the term.
More ideas:http://www.moneycrashers.com/ways-pay-for-afford-college/Find scholarships:http://www.fastweb.com/
Something Administration Can Do:Housing Plans For Breaks
Another wide-spread yet little-discussed problem is that of students not having a place to stay during holidays or school breaks. As a solution, some schools have offered to work with students one-on-one to plan housing for breaks, or are working to keep one dorm or house available for students to stay on campus.
Example:http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/11/complaint_prompts_aquinas_coll.htmlResources:http://nysteachs.org/info-topic/access-college.html
Psychological Health
Feeling one is part of something greater than oneself and that one has an impact on that higher sense of self are key factors in personal happiness. A person who feels they are part of something greater than themselves but have little or no impact can become depressed.
Mental wellbeing or psychological wellbeing is measured using the “thriving index” and asks questions related to self-efficacy, optimism and positive self-thinking. Mental wellbeing is highly correlated to feeling happy and satisfied with life. Conversely, mental illness has a strong negative impact on an individuals happiness. The World Happiness Report 2013 places high priority on mental health.
Students often face depression at some time in their time on campus. If not addressed, it can lead to devastation and sometimes suicide.
Something Administration Can Do:Provide Sufficient Mental Health Care and Encourage Help-Seeking
University mental health care should be comprehensive, with immediate emergency services, programs to identify individuals in need, and the insurance policy needed to make care available to all students. Holding events or sessions to better inform the community of mental health issues is also a good idea to build unity and resilience.
Tools and more suggestions:https://jedfoundation.org/programs/campusmhaphttp://www.gannett.cornell.edu/campus/welfare/framework.cfm
Something Students Can Do:Practice Mindfulness
There are a whole host of reasons of why mindfulness practice and meditation is beneficial to both mind and body. This holds true in college by relieving stress, increasing focus and creativity, and making it easier to savor the good.
Mindfulness Apps:http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/what-mindfulness-can-do-for-youGuided Meditation Downloads:http://www.freemindfulness.org/download
Governance
Science tells us that participating in the democratic process leads to a deeper sense of happiness and wellbeing. Moreover, research indicates that when governance quality increases, people’s wellbeing increases.
Scores in the domain of governance are consistently low for most every area. Confidence in local and federal government and corruption are measured. The most common objective metric used to measure participation in government is voting rates.
Consistently low scores could indicate a degree of crisis in belief that one can make a difference or counts when it comes to politics.
Measuring student, faculty and staff happiness and using this data to inform decisions for allocation of resources and promulgation of policy is one way to engage all and rebuild trust in government. Subjective wellbeing surveys are also a way to create a feedback loop between the students, faculty and a campus administration which is proven to increase satisfaction with services.
Something Administration Can Do:Include Students in Decision-Making
Enable students to play a part in designing the systems and programs they are living in and working with. Make room on committee boards to help make decisions such as what professors are hired and college policies.
Pitzer College Governance System:http://www.pitzer.edu/governance/index.asp
Something Students Can Do:Student Governments
Another way for students to get involved in campus politics is through student governments. The American Student Government Association has resources for engaging students in their government, shaping ideas into practical plans, and forming connections.
ASGA Toolbox:http://asgaonline.com/ME2/dirsect.asp?sid=50B5B95D65A549939485AECEB5FFF00F&nm=%3CFONT+color%3D%23ffff00%3ESG+Toolbox
Something Students Can Do:Vote and Encourage Friends
Students can organize voter registration drives on campus for others who may not be as likely to get involved, set up a carpool on voting day, and even host a debate-watching party. Alternatively, students could volunteer with a campaign, or invite a candidate to give a talk at their school.
Host a Registration Drive:http://collegelife.about.com/od/2012PresidentialElection/a/How-To-Host-A-Voter-Registration-Drive-On-Campus.htmOther Ways to Get Involved:http://collegelife.about.com/od/cocurricularlife/ht/electioninvolve.htm
Health
Research indicates that health is more highly correlated to happiness than income. Science also shows us that the more friends one has, the less chance a person will get sick with the cold or flu.
Physical health is closely tied to psychological health as well as to a sense of community and a healthy environment. Access to healthcare and life expectancy are the common metrics used to measure health. Subjective metrics gather information on how healthy and capable people feel they are, their energy levels, and satisfaction with their quality of exercise.
Something Administration Can Do:Increase Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Studies have been showing dramatic increases in vegetarian and vegan college students. Non-meat proteins such as soy, legumes, leafy greens, nuts, quinoa, and meat substitutes are a necessity. Similarly, occasionally offering vegan carob cookies, offering cheese on the side, and serving courses that are gluten free can help students get the nutrients they need.
Tips on how to make your cafeteria more vegan as a student: http://www.vegan.com/tips/college-dining-halls/Tips on how to make your cafeteria more vegan as an institution: https://www.vrg.org/fsupdate/tipsintroinstitute.htm
Something Administration Can Do:Encourage Exercise
Ways to to promote exercise could include tallying each dorms’ hours at the gym over the course of a couple months and giving a bonus to the house budget of the winner. Penn State hosts a “Exercise is Medicine” week, during which the college community is encouraged to participate in physical activities.
Example:http://news.psu.edu/story/289426/2013/09/27/campus-life/kinesiology-club-promote-active-living-during-exercise-medicine
Community
Community and social support is likely the most important life circumstance that influences our happiness. A strong sense of community has impacts on our psychological and physical health, participation in the democratic process, our local economy and how we treat nature.
A sense of safety, trust in others and giving in terms of volunteerism and donations are measured in the community domain.
Encouraging and facilitating volunteerism in a city or rural area is likely a crucial strategy to happiness for residents and the sustainability of a city or rural community.
Something Students and Admin Can Do:Host an Event
Organize a festival or event in which students, faculty, administration, and the local community are invited to participate. Music or harvest festival, film showing or poetry reading, hosting an event can bring together individuals who might not otherwise meet to bond over a common interest.
Clark College Jazz Festival:http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/jazz_festival/
Something Students Can Do:Volunteer
Volunteering locally further engages students in their community but also helps give back to it. Join volunteer programs already affiliated with the college or find you own, try it out, and encourage other students or members of the college community to join you. Make a club or create a carpool.
Find other opportunities in your area:http://www.volunteermatch.org/http://createthegood.org/
Something Students Can Do:Connect Off-Campus
While your school may have clubs or groups for a wide array of activities, opinions, and communities, there are also many online tools available to engage in a wider community in order to find common interests or undiscovered passions.
Online Tools:http://www.meetup.com/https://villagecraft.org/https://www.eventbrite.com/
Environment
Happiness data gathered from apps tells us that for most of us, we are happiest when we are in nature. This can be a park, in the garden or hiking in the mountains. We experience lower stress and higher life satisfaction when we are in nature. Science is also indicating that when we spend time in nature, we get sick less.
Environment scores are usually high for rural areas and low in urban areas. Questions in the survey include the topics of access to nature, efforts to conserve and restore the environment, and air quality.
Access to nature and experiencing a healthy environment can be a challenge when spaces are limited and there are many factors on a global scale and outside of our control. Providing opportunities to experience and appreciate nature on a campus can help inspire hope and encourage actions to preserve and restore our environment.
Something Administration Can Do:Outdoor Classroom
Outdoor classrooms can either be a natural area with a wide variety of native plant species, conducive for environmental or ecological studies projects and research, and as a calm place to do homework. Alternatively, they can literally be classrooms built outside, so professors can hold classes in fresh air.
Creating an outdoor classroom:https://www.wcupa.edu/sustainability/documents/create_outdoor_classroom.pdfhttp://www.acitech.org/resources/outdoor_classroom
Something Students and Admin Can Do:Start a Campus Farm
Starting and keeping a farm on campus can have many benefits for the student body, including a more sustainable and healthy food source, a potential connection between the student body and the local community, and increased opportunities for students interested in agriculture.
Example:https://www.hampshire.edu/farm/hampshire-college-farmStart a Farm!:http://www.farmmarketingsolutions.com/gfp059-starting-a-farm-at-your-college/
Arts & culture
A strong sense of culture is closely ties with a strong sense of community, and can help bolster one’s sense of community. Community is highly correlated with personal happiness and wellbeing for all.
Arts and culture include the sports, visual art, literature, music, theatre, film, dance, cuisine, language, social habit, religion and the beliefs and customs of a society, group or geographic region.
A campus devoid of arts and culture is devoid of character, and conversely, thriving societies, economies and natural environments are often tied to a strong sense of campus culture.
Emotional intelligence can help people to take better care of themselves, relate and communicate with others, and alleviate anxiety or mood swings. Some schools have started testing students on their ability to manage and understand emotions. Others have included emotional intelligence sessions in Freshman Seminars.
Something Administration Can Do:Integrate Emotional Intelligence
Changes made at Yale:http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-15/want-an-mba-from-yale-youre-going-to-need-emotional-intelligence More Info:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/23/colleges-finding-new-ways-promote-well-being_n_5870662.html
Something Students or Admin Can Do:Experiential and Hands-On Learning
Another opportunity for new forms of learning can come with more experiential learning, hands-on projects, or further use of people as resources. Try out new activities, attend in workshops or tutorials on topics or crafts you’re interested in, or even design your own tutorial.
Facilitating Experiential Learning:http://www.businessballs.com/experiential_learning.htmFind Internships:http://www.internships.com/student
Something Administration Can Do:Promote Arts on Campus
One way to promote and celebrate arts at colleges or universities is by supporting art displays on campus, such as murals or exhibits. Other opportunities include hosting music or art festivals, or creating connections to the community at local theatres, galleries, or gig locations.
Boston College Art Festival: http://www.bc.edu/offices/artscouncil/festival.htmlPitzer College Campus Aesthetics Committee:http://www.pitzer.edu/governance/committees/aesthetics/
Something Students Can Do:Celebrate Culture
Students can also expand their cultural horizons by hosting an event allowing peers to share their cultural backgrounds, including crafts, holidays, foods, or games. This can be done either as a school-supported event, or within a single dorm.
Example:http://www.calvin.edu/chimes/2014/11/20/dorm-event-celebrates-different-cultures/Hold your own event:http://www.wikihow.com/Organise-an-Event
Work
Happiness science tells us that happiness at work highly tied to work that demands one’s highest capacity and greatest interests brings about happiness, greater productivity and better results. Another way to say this is work that enables one to “self-actualize” brings about better results for all.
Productivity, autonomy, appreciation, and levels of interest are measured in the work domain. Work comprises about one third of a person’s waking life. Work is also an important factor that determines whether a person will stay in a city or rural region.
Many cities and rural communities area starting to understand the difference between job creation and quality job creation that serves local people who need and will benefit from the jobs as opposed to new jobs that bring in non-locals and leave local with fewer and fewer options on many levels.
Something Administration Can Do:Make Room for Academic Exploration
Allow students to explore what they want to study and give them the time and resources to figure that out. This may include having time or assignments requiring students to reflect or consider future goals, cutting down on required classes, and promoting learning out of passion, curiosity, or personal initiative rather than for a grade.
Examples of flexible college programs: http://www.hercampus.com/life/9-most-flexible-colleges-country
Something Students Can Do:Follow Your Bliss
Joseph Campbell said it. It’s still true. You have one life to live and the rest of your life to work. In his words: “If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.” Have the courage to find and follow your bliss.
Joseph Campbell on Following Your Bliss:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHBBplGmLbM
Time Balance
Happiness science tells us that the most unhappy times are commutes. The most unhappy days are Tuesday, (not Monday) and we are happiest on the weekends or holidays.
Time balance scores are consistently the lowest of all domain scores for most every area. There are two types of time imbalance: not having enough time to do everything you want to do, and not having enough time to do all the things you don’t want to do. Studies show that when people work over 40 hours, no matter how much they are paid or love their jobs, their wellbeing suffer.
Flextime, compressed work-week, Job sharing (2 part time employees for one FT position), telecommuting and permanent part time (often 30 hours a week, with employee deciding hours and days working), wellness-leave (as opposed to sick leave) days, shortened work hours for parents of small children or sick elders and limits on long work hours or overnight working and are a few solutions employers have used to manage time balance.
Something Students Can Do:Make Time
Working more than the typical forty-hours a week can have negative effects on health, social life, and productivity. Give yourself some space from school work and your job and use the time wisely by focusing it on things you love, such as friends, hobbies, spirituality, or exercise.
Make time for things you care about: http://www.collegefashion.net/college-life/3-steps-to-achieving-balance-as-a-college-student/http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000241/
Something Administration Can Do:Study Breaks
Many schools have started providing students with study breaks during finals week, as a way to relieve stress and get students away from their desks for a bit. These could be as simple as refreshments and music, or bringing some therapeutic puppies onto campus.
Puppies! http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-05-13/dogs-stress-relief-on-campus/54921444/1
Social Support
Happiness science tells us that you will be about as happy as those whose company you keep. This means one should choose one’s friends wisely and make choices about one’s own life circumstances and way of being to be good company.
Personal relationships, feeling loved, feeling that people caring about one are all aspects of social support. A personal safety net helps one when they need help, such as when out of a job, homeless or seriously ill. Safety nets can come from family and friends and policies and programs that help people when they are in need. Where campuses provide strong safety nets, people self-assess themselves happier than others living where safety nets are non-existent.
Some of the most unhappy places on earth are those where people feel the utmost of danger: countries suffering under civil warfare. The ability to meet one’s psychological and safety needs are necessary to the pursuit of happiness.
Something Students Can Do:Join/Form a Study Group
Joining a study group can provide the social support needed to not only assist a student with their grades, but also help relieve stress and make the work more fun. It’s also a good way to get to know classmates!
Form a study group:http://www.bookrags.com/articles/38.html#gsc.tab=0http://www.educationcorner.com/studing-groups.html
Something Students Can Do:Say “Yes” to New Things
Especially for freshmen at larger universities, finding the people you want to spend your time with can be difficult at first. Get out of your room as much as you can, including to classes, to discover both new passions and friends.
Freshmen Tips:http://mic.com/articles/13708/freshman-year-survival-guide-15-tips-for-your-first-year-of-college
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This is a working document.
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