Every day, thousands of University of Tennessee students log onto the same central hub for learning and communication with faculty. Canvas, an enterprise learning management system, is the university’s home for courses, quizzes, and messaging between students and professors. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Division of Student Life, Student Government Association (SGA), and the Office of Innovative Technologies, that central academic hub is now also home to a health and wellness tab that features campus resources and crisis support options.
As current SGA president Chase Darwin was preparing his campaign last spring, he researched student government campaigns at other schools and an idea sparked. He brought the idea to the executive cabinet in SGA, who wanted to take a closer look at how the university could maximize mental health resources.
“At Tennessee, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of support, but we realized not every student takes full advantage of them,” says Darwin. “I wanted to get the plethora of resources available at UT in front of students right where they are. That’s where the idea for a Student Wellness tool in Canvas came in. Since nearly all 40,000 students open Canvas daily, putting wellness front and center on the toolbar could make resources easier to find and use.”
After meetings with Division of Student Life administrators over the summer, Darwin approached Jill Zambito, assistant vice chancellor for health and well-being, and professionals in the Office of Innovative Technologies to see what was possible.
“This idea coming to fruition is an illustration of the value UT leadership places on student ideas and initiatives,” says Zambito. “Leaders listen when students come to them with ways to make the Volunteer experience that much more positive, or healthy, or engaging.”
Key decision-makers, including Canvas administrators at UT, were eager to support the increased access for students to health and wellness resources. And within a week, the Canvas team had a draft prepared for review.
“It wasn’t just Student Life or health and wellness folks,” says Darwin. “It was all the way across the community. Everyone wanted to play a role in getting students connected to resources.”
It wasn’t just Student Life or health and wellness folks. It was all the way across the community. Everyone wanted to play a role in getting students connected to resources.
Chase Darwin
President of SGA and Senior Studying Marketing
The initial meeting between SGA, Student Life, and the Office of Innovative Technologies took place on Tuesday, September 16. The Student Wellness menu tab was live in Canvas for all UT students on Thursday, September 25.
“Leveraging OIT’s supported technologies in ways that support well-being on UT’s campus is not just a strategic initiative but a vital commitment to enhancing the student experience,” says Rosie Sasso, an IT manager in the Office of Innovative Technologies. “Incorporating the Student Wellness icon in Canvas for all Vols was a meaningful addition that underscores OIT’s dedication to accessibility and mental health resources, ensuring every student can effortlessly connect with tools that promote their success and well-being.”
Darwin and other SGA officers overheard students in their classes commenting about the Student Wellness tab as they logged into Canvas for the first time after it went live. And emails came in, too.
“The positive reception was immediate all across the campus community,” says Darwin, who is a senior studying marketing. “Students noticed, and the appreciation for centering health and well-being resources was notable.”
Darwin notes that this is more than a new button in Canvas, but it is a reflection of how UT is prioritizing student mental health and wellness. Not just in the Division of Student Life, but across every department, for all 40,421 Vols.