2023
UT THRIVE SUMMIT S t u d e n t U n i o n | N o v. 1 5 | 1 1 : 3 0 a . m . - 3 p . m .
UT THRIVE SUMMIT 2023
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
DR. ARTHUR BROOKS UT Thrive Summit Keynote Speaker
Arthur C. Brooks is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership, happiness, and social entrepreneurship. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column.
Brooks is the author of 13 books, including the 2023 #1 New York Times bestseller, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier with co-author Oprah Winfrey and the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. He speaks to audiences all around the world about human happiness, and works to raise well-being within private companies, universities, public agencies, and community organizations.
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
Student Success Grant Faculty Leads: • Randall Small, Professor and Director of Biology Teaching and Learning • Caroline Wienhold, Assistant Director of Biology Teaching and Learning
THANK YOU to the following:
• Darren Maczka, Lecturer and Assistant Research Professor of Engineering Fundamentals • Erin McCave, Lecturer and Assistant Research Professor of Engineering Fundamentals
Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows:
• Sean Morey, Director of Composition in English
• Betsy Chesnutt, Lecturer of Engineering Fundamentals
• Heather Akers, Lecturer, Department of English
• Heather Coker Hawkins, Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies and Time-Based Art
• Jack Sturm, Lecturer of Mathematics
• Mark Collins, Distinguished Lecturer of Marketing • April Conner, Distinguished Lecturer of Mathematics • Elizabeth (Bess) Cooley, Lecturer of English
• Shel Swenson, Senior Lecturer of Mathematics • Greg Wright, Senior Lecturer of Mathematics • Angela Gentry, Senior Lecturer of Mathematics • Kimberly Smith, Senior Lecturer of Mathematics
• Eva Cowell, Senior Lecturer of Management and Entrepreneurship • Renée D’Elia-Zunino, Distinguished Lecturer of Italian Studies • Jennifer Fowler, Distinguished Lecturer of Mathematics • Jessica Frampton, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies • Rob Hardin, Professor of Sport Management
DR. JOHN ZOMCHICK UT Provost & Senior Vice Chancellor
• Hojung Kim, Assistant Professor of Interior Architecture • Laura Knight, Assistant Professor of Practice of Industrial and Systems Engineering • Cheryl Kojima, Associate Professor of Animal Science • Elizabeth MacTavish, Clinical Associate Professor of STEM Education • Casey Norris, Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing • Ashley Pennell, Assistant Professor of Practice of Social Work • Andrew Pulte, Distinguished Lecturer of Plant Sciences • Dr. Virginia Stormer, Teaching and Learning Innovation Representative
“We are committed to our Vols’ success and with that their well-being and readiness to enter the world beyond UT as prepared, experienced student scholars. Our work with well-being encompasses deep engagement and transformative educational experiences, inside and outside the classroom. The better our Vols feel, the more deeply engaged they are, the more successful they are on building their strengths – the more likely they are to persist on Rocky Top and leave us ready to make life and lives better wherever their journeys take them.” CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
THANK YOU to the following:
The Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (co-sponsor) Student Success Faculty Advisory Council: • Scott Barnicle, Associate Professor of Practice in Sport Psychology • Lynn Beeler, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing and ABSN Program Chair • Alex Bentley, Professor of Anthropology • Eric Boder, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Associate Department Head, and Director of Undergraduate Studies • Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud, Associate Professor of English and Director of Undergraduate Studies • Mary Cooper, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs • David Golden, Professor of Food Science and Faculty Fellow • Guy Harrison, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Bayyinah Jeffries, Associate Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies and Associate Department Head, Faculty Senate appointee
Thank you to each of our dedicated faculty and staff members who contribute to making UT a community where our scholars thrive.
• Bill Lyons, Director of Policy Relationships • Robert Mindrup, Director and Clinical Associate Professor • Heather Sedges, Affiliated Associate Professor of Child and Family Studies, Faculty Senate appointee • Renée Tatum, Assistant Professor of Voice • Scott Wall, Professor of Architecture • Caroline Wienhold, Assistant Director of Biology Teaching and Learning • Kate Shepas, Student Success Librarian for User Experience, University Libraries • Mary Cooper, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs, Haslam College of Business • Robert Mindrup, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of BSSW Programs
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE TIME
SESSION
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lunch
12 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Welcome Remarks Provost John Zomchick
12:15 p.m - 1 p.m.
Keynote: Dr. Arthur Brooks
1 p.m. - 1:10 p.m
Integrating Well-Being in the Classroom Vice Provost Amber Williams
1:15 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Breakout Session #1 • SU 270: Addressing Well-Being in Students and Faculty: Initial Results from Course Interventions • SU 262A: Table Talk - Strategies for Fostering Well-Being in the Classroom • SU 262C: PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being: An Introduction to our Framework • SU 262B: Panel Session: Meeting the Unique Needs of Our Scholars
2:10 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Breakout Session #2 • SU 262C: PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being: An Introduction to our Framework • SU 262B: From Theory to Practice: Applying the PERMA™ Framework • SU 270: Strengthening Academic Wellbeing with CliftonStrengths: A Tool to Cultivate PERMA™
BREAKOUT SESSION #1 SU 270
Addressing Well-Being in Students and Faculty: Initial Results from Course Interventions • • • •
Dr. Patrick Biddix, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Higher Education Dr. Sally Hunter, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Child & Family Studies Dr. Andy Pulte, Herbert College of Agriculture, Plant Sciences Dr. Caroline Wienhold, College of Arts Sciences, Biology
While there is momentum regarding lifting the well-being of our students, how are we mutually considering faculty well-being? Research has indicated that when faculty work together to improve students’ academic performance while tending to students’ well-being, the faculty members’ own sense of well-being increases as well. This session will share insights from the Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows program as well as findings from early assessments of UT’s Student Success Grant program and examples of how these efforts are affecting the faculty involved.
Table Talk - Strategies for Fostering Well-Being in the Classroom • • • • • •
SU 262A
Dr. Eva Cowell, Haslam College of Business, Management and Entrepreneurship Dr. Renee D’Elia-Zunino, College of Arts and Sciences, Italian Studies Laura Knight, Tickle College of Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering Dr. Erin McCave, Tickle College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals Dr. Casey Norris, College of Nursing Dr. Darren Maczka, Tickle College of Engineering, Engineering Fundamentals
The PERMA model was selected as the university’s well-being model due to its applicability in a variety of settings. Are you interested in helping lift our undergraduate scholars’ well-being through your own classroom teaching? Wondering how supporting well-being might look different in a small classroom versus a large lecture hall? This session will be an opportunity to sit with some UT faculty who are currently implementing the PERMA model in the classroom to ask questions and think about how you might apply it in your unique instructional setting.
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
BREAKOUT SESSION #1
BREAKOUT SESSION #2
PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being: An Introduction to our Framework
SU 262C
• Dr. Mark Collins, Haslam College of Business, Marketing • Heather Coker Hawkins, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Art • Dr. Rob Hardin, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies • Dr. Virginia Stormer, Division of Faculty Affairs, Teaching and Learning Innovation Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being describes five elements that enable individuals to flourish and live more meaningful lives: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. This workshop will provide an overview of how the university decided to use this framework to support the strategic vision. Participants will be provided an overview of the framework, including the theories and research behind each of the five elements.
PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being: An Introduction to our Framework • Dr. Virginia Stormer, Division of Faculty Affairs, Teaching and Learning Innovation • Dr. Krystyne Savarese, Division of Student Success, Strategic Initiatives Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being describes five elements that enable individuals to flourish and live more meaningful lives: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. This workshop will provide an overview of how the university decided to use this framework to support the strategic vision. Participants will be provided an overview of the framework, including the theories and research behind each of the five elements.
From Theory to Practice: Applying the PERMA™ Framework Panel Session: Meeting the Unique Needs of Our Scholars
SU 262B
• Dr. Erin Hardin, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology (session moderator) • Aaron Dixon, Division of Student Success, UT Success Academy • Dr. Melinda Gibbons, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences; Counselor Education • Dr. Joe Pierce, Division of Student Life, Office of the Dean of Students • Jayetta Rogers, Division of Student Success, Veterans Success Center
SU 262C
SU 262B
• Dr. Sally Hunter, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, Child & Family Studies • Dr. Patrick Akos, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of University Honors This workshop will provide a deeper dive into the five elements of Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA™ Theory of Well-Being; positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Participants will be provided examples of how to apply the five elements of the model both in the classroom and beyond. We will consider how the model can be applied in classrooms with different numbers of enrolled students, as well as in various staff and team settings.
While we are invested in lifting the well-being of all our undergraduate scholars, we also recognize that they come to campus with a diverse array of experiences, talents, and challenges. For many, before we can tend to their holistic well-being, we first need to ensure their basic physical, emotional, and social needs are met. This moderated panel features faculty and staff who serve some of UT’s unique populations of students.
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
BREAKOUT SESSION #2 Strengthening Academic Wellbeing with CliftonStrengths: A Tool to Cultivate PERMA™ SU 270 • Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success In alignment with UT’s strategic investment in well-being, Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment is one tool being employed to help our students understand their unique talents and how they might approach academic success differently than their peers. This session will discuss the philosophy behind using an asset-based approach, review how the CliftonStrengths assessment is used to examine one’s unique talents and abilities, discuss how the assessment is currently being used on campus, and explore how it can be leveraged to lift our undergraduate scholars’ success in the classroom.
DR. AMBER WILLIAMS UT Vice Provost for Student Success
“We are transforming the student experience by creating a holistic approach to student well-being and success. We start with high expectations and challenge our students intellectually with robust systems to support their growth. By taking a holistic approach, we believe our students will perform better academically, will be more confident and resilient, will form stronger relationships, and will be mentally and physically healthier.”
MISSION STATEMENT Division of Student Success The Division of Student Success at UT works to engage each scholar’s experience by supporting their unique strengths and goals. We collaborate with UT faculty and staff to help each scholar maximize their individual strengths and understand how their strengths contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being.
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND
UT THRIVE SUMMIT
“
Indeed, your biggest life transition doesn’t have to be a crisis or a period of loss, but rather can be an exciting adventure full of opportunities you never knew existed. - Arthur C. Brooks, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life
”
CREATING A CULTURE OF THRIVING: FLOURISHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND