KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, Western Michigan University (WMU) officials announced the roll-out of a new platform meant to help students stay connected during distance education.
According to officials, the platform, known as “YOU at Western,” was created to meet students where they are and offer them tools to maximize their college experience. The platform is focused on emotional, physical, career and academic well-being, and provides tools and resources to do so.
“It’s such a comprehensive approach that really focuses on the holistic student experience,” vice president for student affairs Dr. Diane Anderson said in a statement. “We think about college being an opportunity for students to find their purpose. When you find that career, that passion, that discipline that gets you excited, it makes a huge difference in your motivation in terms of how you focus your energy.”
The platform allows students to explore their strengths and areas for growth across three domains:
- Succeed: Focused on academics and career success
- Thrive: Focused on physical and mental health
- Matter: Focused on identifying purpose and establishing community and social connections
Students create profiles based on their individual growth priorities, which allows the platform to serve up advice, campus and community resources, and training recommendations specific to their needs. A goal tracker also measures success and creates an archive to reference achievement history.
“One of my favorite features of the program is how customizable it is. It does a great job of tailoring a student’s needs to set them up for success in college,” first-year arts administration student Topher Verhil said in a statement. “I got to explore different resources for students on campus as well as tools for how to cope with stress and anxiety. If I was lacking in a specific area, the Reality Checks gave me articles that I could read on how to grow in those areas. It gave me helpful tips to really take charge of my college experience.”
Officials say “YOU at Western” emphasizes the importance of looking at the college experience as academics and more. In order for students to be successful and have meaningful lives, officials say they need the tools to manage all aspects of their lives.
“In this day and age, where there is so much anxiety and so much stress, to have a tool that is not only focused on career but also on making sure that you leave here whole and you understand how to keep yourself whole as you face life’s adversities along the way, I think, is huge,” Anderson said.
Anderson also noted that WMU is the only institution in Michigan using the platform.
Another resource the platform links to is WMU’s new WellTrack application, which is aimed at helping students, faculty and staff manage mental health. It allows users to track their mood over time, identify stressors, intentionally schedule self-care activities and learn about strategies to manage feelings of depression, anxiety and stress.
Both YOU at Western and WellTrack are also available to faculty and staff.
“This intensified focus on well-being has been in the works for some time, inspired by the campus-wide initiative that led to Rethink Smart and the understanding that many college students struggle with anxiety, depression and feelings of disempowerment,” Anderson added. “We are committed to putting well-being front and center at Western.”
More information about “YOU at Western” can be found at WMU’s official website.
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