{"678011":{"#nid":"678011","#data":{"type":"news","title":"First-Year Wellness Experience Expands with \u0027Scientific Foundations of Health\u0027","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA wellness course at Georgia Tech was redesigned for the fall to help first-year students better navigate the challenges of college life. The course,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAPPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eexpands the Institute\u2019s\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/housing.gatech.edu\/welcome-first-year-wellness-experience#:~:text=The%20First%2DYear%20Wellness%20Experience%20aims%20to%20sustain%20and%20enhance,entire%20continuum%20of%20student%20experiences.\u0022\u003E First-Year Wellness\u0026nbsp;Experience\u003C\/a\u003E (FYWE), which promotes student wellness across multiple areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis course bridges the academic and well-being experiences of the student,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/christie-stewart\u0022\u003EChristie Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E, co-director of the wellness course and senior academic professional in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWe designed it to help students develop habits that support their overall success, both in and out of the classroom.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeaching Wellness from Day One\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAPPH 1040 gives students practical strategies they can apply immediately. The course now covers topics like sleep improvement, stress management, resilience, and social wellness to help students better adapt to college life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBecky James\u003C\/strong\u003E, one of the course instructors, encourages students to take a holistic approach. \u201cStudents are empowered to take a whole-person perspective and explore how wellness dimensions relate, overlap, and play a role in their well-being,\u201d says James.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst-year mechanical engineering student\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EGargi Telang\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Esays the course is reshaping her perspective. \u201cEach lecture focuses on a different aspect of wellness,\u201d she says. \u201cMy professor doesn\u2019t just tell us what to do \u2014 she explains why. This approach has completely transformed\u202fmy mindset. I wish I could take this course every semester at Tech. You show up, you reap the benefits.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFostering Community and Belonging\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to individual wellness, the course emphasizes building social connections. \u201cSocial wellness is about creating a community. It\u2019s important that students connect to their classmates and find a sense of belonging,\u201d says Stewart. \u201cWith a focus on mental health both campus-wide and nationwide, we needed to take a closer look at our culture of wellness and how we can build that on campus.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFirst-year computer science student\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EElla Foster\u003C\/strong\u003E says the focus on collaboration and self-discovery is one of the course\u2019s strengths. \u201cI love how we are working together to establish roles for our research projects based on our \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/ietdc\/strengths\/\u0022\u003ECliftonStrengths Assessments\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 a tool that helps people identify their natural talents.\u201d\u202f\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrengthening an Established Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFaculty redesigned the curriculum of the existing APPH 1040 course to better align with FYWE and the eight key dimensions of well-being (financial, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and occupational well-being). Supported by partnerships with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/housing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EHousing and Residence Life\u003C\/a\u003E, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mentalhealth.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Mental Health Care and Resources\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wellnesscenter.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EWellness Empowerment Center\u003C\/a\u003E, the FYWE provides a range of services designed to promote student well-being, including peer support networks and designated residence halls.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMany first-year students face stress related to academic rigor, making it essential to introduce them to wellness strategies early in their college careers,\u201d says Stewart.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis year, the new APPH 1040 piloted two cohorts of 48 students each \u2014 one on the east and west side of campus. Feedback through student surveys will help improve future courses.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe first year is an integral part of a student\u2019s foundation for success,\u201d says School of Biological Sciences Lecturer \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/sasha-mcburse\u0022\u003ESasha McBurse\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cBy the completion of this course, students will have strategies to overcome adversity and a game plan for improving their wellness for life.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFirst-year computer science student\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAyden Beard\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Esays this semester was the perfect time for him to take the course. \u201cIt\u2019s given me so many tips on ways to develop healthy habits, manage stress, and maintain a happy, healthy life.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe course will be offered again in the spring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EYou can find more information on Georgia Tech\u2019s wellness programs and events\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.campuslabs.com\/engage\/events\u0022\u003Ehere\u202f\u003C\/a\u003Eand the School of Biological Sciences\u2019 wellness courses\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/wellness\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe newly redesigned course, APPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health, expands the Institute\u2019s First-Year Wellness Experience and provides students with practical wellness tools and strategies for college life and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The newly redesigned course, APPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health, expands the Institute\u2019s First-Year Wellness Experience and provides students with practical wellness tools and strategies for college life and beyond."}],"uid":"36609","created_gmt":"2024-10-30 17:38:11","changed_gmt":"2024-10-31 22:47:00","author":"acook304","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675468":{"id":"675468","type":"image","title":"Students say the course, APPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health, has provided helpful tools to succeed in college.","body":null,"created":"1730311057","gmt_created":"2024-10-30 17:57:37","changed":"1730410077","gmt_changed":"2024-10-31 21:27:57","alt":"Students say the course, APPH 1040: Scientific Foundations of Health, has provided helpful tools to succeed in college.","file":{"fid":"259095","name":"FYWE group .JPEG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/30\/FYWE%20group%20.JPEG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/30\/FYWE%20group%20.JPEG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4696299,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/30\/FYWE%20group%20.JPEG?itok=Ao3eFkpJ"}}},"media_ids":["675468"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"88821","name":"health and wellness"},{"id":"4368","name":"first year"},{"id":"178774","name":"mental wellness"},{"id":"22221","name":"first year students"},{"id":"180358","name":"Group Wellness"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAmanda Cook\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEditor and Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E Lindsay C. Vidal\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}