About the Mindful University Project
The Mindful University Project is a campus-wide initiative offered through the UHS Health Promotion Office with a mission to empower our campus community to build a culture of mindful presence and compassion to:
- improve mental well-being;
- boost academic flourishing;
- increase resiliency to stress; and
- reduce levels of anxiety and depression.
What we do
Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive space for all students, staff, and faculty to learn and engage in mindfulness through:
Drop-in meditation sittings
Half-day silent retreats
Contemplative practices including yoga, walking meditation, and mindful outdoor experiences
Faculty and staff training
Educational workshops
Why do we do it?
We recognize the stress that our students are facing – the pressure to do more, to excel academically, and of course, to be ever better. Today’s students face an endless sea of distraction and competing demands, which hinders their ability to be present in their everyday life and often leads to mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression.
If you’re experiencing stress or feeling overwhelmed and lonely, you’re not alone. The level of mental health distress amongst university students is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the 2024 National College Health Assessment results:
- 78% of University of Rochester students reported moderate or severe stress levels within the previous 30 days.
- Approximately 42% of students said stress has either negatively impacted their performance in a class or has delayed progress towards their degree.
- 52.4% of students screened positive for loneliness.
- Only 8.1% of students felt rested 6-7 days within the previous week.
We want to offer a way for our students to manage their stress and calm the chatter of their minds and make their lives better in a way that is accessible and meaningful. However, our students can’t make this change by themselves. They need to be immersed in a community that supports them at all levels. From the faculty who teach them, the academic advisers who support them, the residence advisers who live with them, and the healthcare professionals who care for them – we are all in this together. This is why our program is not just student-focused but spans across the entire community, so we all can live ever better lives.
Our leadership team
Read about the Mindful University Project’s leadership team, mindfulness teachers, and student employees.