Students are the heartbeat of the University of Tennessee, and now, thanks to Innovation Award funding and HeartMath technologies, those heartbeats are unlocking new ways to manage stress and regulate emotions.
In 2022, the Division of Student Life launched the Innovation Awards, providing one-time funding to support groundbreaking initiatives that enhance the student experience. One of the latest projects to receive funding is a program that brings HeartMath to campus, transforming how students manage stress.
HeartMath, a non-profit organization known for its cutting-edge biofeedback tools, provides technology that helps users monitor and manage their heart rhythms. Traditionally, biofeedback devices are costly and stationary, but HeartMath offers a portable solution that connects to a smartphone app, making it accessible for students on the go.
Three Student Life departments—the Center for Care and Resilience, the Center for Health Education and Wellness, and Student Disability Services—received Innovation Award funding to bring HeartMath to campus. Staff from these departments completed an intensive eight-week training, equipping them to serve as mentors and distribute HeartMath devices to students.
“Stress and anxiety are consistently among the top concerns we hear from students,” said Lisa Loar, director of the Center for Care and Resilience. “HeartMath offers an innovative way to address these issues.”
HeartMath’s premise is simple yet powerful. By using the device just a few times a day over an eight-week period, students can learn to achieve “coherence.” Defined as a balanced alignment between the heart and brain that promotes calm, focus, and emotional resilience, coherence is critical to overall wellness for students on campus. Students can check out these devices for eight weeks at a time and use them anywhere—whether in a quiet corner of the library or the bustling Student Union—while the app tracks their progress and provides feedback on how well they are reaching coherence.
Following a limited rollout in the summer of 2024, full access to HeartMath began during the fall semester, and the results have been encouraging. Students, particularly those who struggle with test anxiety and stress, have reported positive outcomes. By calming the body’s physiological response to stress, HeartMath allows students to access their memory more effectively, improving both their academic performance and emotional well-being.
Current students interested in working with a HeartMath facilitator to reduce stress or campus community members who are concerned about a student’s stress level can call 974-HELP or complete a referral at care.utk.edu.
Although other universities have integrated HeartMath into research programs, UT’s focus is on providing students with the tools they need to thrive emotionally and academically. By collaborating among departments with Student Life, Loar’s goal is to make this powerful resource available to as many students as possible.
As students learn to regulate their heart rhythms and emotions, they take control of their well-being, empowering themselves to face the challenges of college life. Through innovative resources like HeartMath, the Division of Student Life is ensuring that Volunteers have the support they need to succeed at Rocky Top and beyond.
Innovation Awards
- $70,000 allocated for Innovation Awards.
- 2 Innovation programs supported during the 2023-2024 academic year.