The Wellbeing in the Classroom Toolkit is a community-driven, evidence-informed tool that summarizes key strategies that instructors have and may use to promote student wellbeing in the classroom. The strategies outlined could be adjusted and adapted to your classroom setting and context. Please consider what works best for you and your students.
Wellbeing in the Classroom Toolkit helps instructors to:
- Support their own wellbeing through connection to community, self-checks, and access to health and workplace resources
- Create inclusive and respectful learning environments that foster belonging and psychological safety for all students
- Design and deliver courses that promote student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success through flexible, accessible, and supportive practices
- Support students holistically by acknowledging their lives beyond the classroom and connecting them to appropriate campus resources
Originally developed in 2017 through a faculty-led TLEF project, the toolkit has been updated in 2025 by the Office of Wellbeing Strategy and the Teaching and Wellbeing Community of Practice to reflect today’s teaching landscape. This refreshed version incorporates insights from students, instructors, and staff that support instructors across UBC, ensuring it stays relevant and responsive to current needs in the classroom.
Explore the Toolkit
The strategies in this toolkit are organized into four key themes to support different aspects of wellbeing in the classroom. Click on each theme below to explore practical approaches and resources tailored to your teaching context.
Taking Care of Your Wellbeing
Instructor and student wellbeing are deeply connected. This section offers strategies and resources to help instructors care for their own wellbeing—an essential foundation for fostering healthy, thriving learning environments.
Building Inclusive Learning Communities
Fostering belonging is key to student wellbeing and academic success. This section offers practical strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, building strong student-instructor relationships, and promoting peer connection and respect for diversity.
Designing Courses that Promote Wellbeing
Wellbeing thrives in courses that are clear, flexible, and inclusive. This section provides tools and strategies to design learning experiences that support student motivation, reduce stress, and foster academic confidence.
Supporting Students Holistically
Students bring their whole selves to the classroom. This section explores ways instructors can acknowledge life beyond academics, foster a culture of care, and connect students with the support they need to thrive.