The Office of Wellbeing Strategy congratulates the recipients of the 2026 Wellbeing Fellows Program grants! These grants of up to $20,000 per year over two years support faculty in advancing innovative approaches to wellbeing in teaching, learning, and academic workplace environments across UBC Vancouver and Okanagan.
Guided by UBC’s Wellbeing Strategic Framework and commitment to systems-level change, this year’s funded projects explore topics including social connection, digital wellbeing, inclusive pedagogy, workload planning, mental health supports, and restorative classroom practices. This new stream of funding is generously provided by the VPS Student Health & Wellbeing Portfolio.
This year, eight interdisciplinary projects representing six faculties across both campuses received funding to develop scalable initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, belonging, and resilience across the UBC community. Learn more about the projects below.
Leveraging Insights into Teaching Assistant (TA) Wellbeing to Enhance TA-Student Interactions Across Learning Environments
Gail Hammond, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
This project explores how Teaching Assistants’ wellbeing shapes their interactions with students across evolving learning environments. Through focus groups and surveys, the team will examine post-COVID pressures and opportunities facing TAs to help strengthen policies, professional development, and teaching practices that support healthier and more effective learning experiences for both TAs and students.
Enabling Collective Course Planning to Impact Students’ Academic Workload and Wellbeing
Jaclyn Stewart, Faculty of Science
This project will develop a web application or “app” that helps instructors visualize students’ cumulative academic workload across multiple courses. By supporting coordinated course planning and integrating evidence-informed wellbeing practices into instructional design, the initiative aims to promote student wellbeing and more equitable learning experiences across the Faculty of Science.
Wellbeing from the Ground Up
Laura Yvonne Bulk and Tal Jarus, Faculty of Medicine
This project focuses on addressing overwhelm and strengthening belonging across the UBC community through structural, curricular, and policy-level change. The team will co-create a practical toolkit to assess barriers and supports related to wellbeing and develop strategies that foster more connected, inclusive, and sustainable learning and working environments.
“Nature Snacks” Toolkit for Wellbeing Breaks in the Classroom
Sara Baron, Faculty of Forestry
This project will create an open-access “Nature Snack Toolkit” that helps instructors integrate brief, evidence-informed nature breaks into classroom settings. Through adaptable teaching materials and practical guidance, the initiative aims to normalize wellbeing breaks while supporting focus, mental health, and student engagement across disciplines.
Embedding Digital Wellbeing in Teaching and Learning: An Open-Access Resilience Toolkit for Post-secondary Classrooms
Johanna Sam and Leyton Schnellert, Faculty of Education
This project will develop and pilot an open-access digital wellbeing toolkit that helps instructors foster more resilient, reflective, and intentional relationships with technology in post-secondary classrooms. Through adaptable modules, classroom activities, and teaching resources, the initiative aims to support students in developing awareness of their technology use, strengthening digital literacy and self-regulation while navigating increasingly digital learning environments.
Connected in the Classroom: The Effects of Speed-Friending on Classroom Community, Engagement, and Wellbeing
Lauren Human and Tareq Yousef, Faculty of Arts
This project investigates how structured “speed-friending” activities in the classroom can strengthen social connection and wellbeing among students. By encouraging brief peer interactions early in the semester, the initiative aims to build classroom community, increase student engagement, and foster stronger feelings of belonging.
Mind in Motion: Adapting an Exercise-Based Program to Support Staff and Faculty Mental Health
Guy Faulkner, Faculty of Education
This project will adapt the existing Mind in Motion program to support the mental health and physical wellbeing of UBC staff and faculty through accessible, exercise-based programming. Developed in collaboration with staff, faculty, UBC Human Resources and GreenShield, the initiative aims to create a sustainable model that strengthens mental health supports across both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan.
Trauma-Informed Disability Justice Pedagogy: A Wellbeing Toolkit for Teacher Education
Carly Christensen and Leyton Schnellert, Faculty of Education
This project will develop a Disability Justice Wellbeing Toolkit to support instructors in facilitating trauma-informed and inclusive conversations about disability and ableism. Through teaching resources, digital tools, and discussion protocols, the initiative aims to foster more relational, equitable, and supportive teaching and learning environments for both educators and students.
Learn more about the Wellbeing Fellows Program here.