Ep. 125: Voices of Student Success: Improving campus facilities for student wellness

With student mental health concerns on the rise, college leaders have turned their attention outward to campus facilities and the role space, light, sound and décor can play in student learning and healthy living. Many college campuses have established wellness rooms, sensory spaces or relaxation zones to promote healthy habits and academic success for learners.

The focus on environmental wellness is also an inclusive effort, supporting students who struggle with sensory issues, including those with learning or developmental disabilities, and promotes universal design thinking.

In this episode, experts from design firm HKS, Renae Mantooth, research lead in education, and Brad Robichaux, studio practice leader, discuss the science behind environmental wellness and how colleges are adapting to serve their students. Later, hear from Lauren Kehoe, then-accessibility and accommodations librarian at New York University, about how NYU adapted a room in the library to create a safe space for neurodiverse students to study and destress.

Hosted by Inside Higher Ed Student Success Reporter Ashley Mowreader. Read a transcript of the podcast here.