At Gustavus, students aren’t simply here to learn.
They are here to become the best versions of themselves, so that they can become tomorrow’s leaders. To do so, all of us have a hand in fostering a sense of wellbeing on campus, making sure that students graduate with a sense of identity, belonging, agency, and purpose.
President John Volin has made holistic education a tenet of his administration since arriving on the Hill. In an Op-Ed for the Minnesota Star Tribune titled “Colleges Don’t Have to Be Anxiety Machines,” President Volin highlights the connection between lifelong learning and lifelong wellbeing.
“Over the past two decades, colleges narrowed their mission to student goal-achievement. We never made an announcement, and we didn’t put it on the brochure, but our focus has shifted toward outcomes that are easy to quantify: career preparation, first-year employment rates, and the listed accomplishments of each graduating class,” says President Volin. “College’s real power has always been bigger than that. It lies in the relationships, experiences, and difficult questions that make education not just useful but transformative.”
In the past year, Gustavus was accepted into the LearningWell Coalition, a national consortium of colleges and universities committed to whole-student wellbeing, belonging, and flourishing. It is an exclusive group, with only 37 colleges and universities as members, with Gustavus being only one of two in the state of Minnesota.
This fall, President Volin is establishing a Wellbeing Task Force charged with engaging the campus community in developing a comprehensive wellbeing plan and the infrastructure necessary to support it.
“Wellbeing is not a single program or initiative nor does it look the same for every member of our community,” says President Volin. “Our goal is to think more intentionally and comprehensively about what it means to create an environment in which students and employees can thrive.”
In addition to appearing in the Star Tribune, President Volin joined Board of Trustees member Dan Currell and LearningWell Magazine editor-in-chief Marjorie Malpiede on the LearningWell Radio podcast to discuss a wide range of topics relating to wellbeing and how Gustavus can help lead the way in Minnesota and the nation.
“Students grow when they are challenged and supported by people who know them well enough to believe in their potential,” says President Volin. “Those relationships are not incidental to education. They are the education.”
We invite you to read the Op-Ed in the Star Tribune, and listen to the LearningWell Radio podcast on the LearningWell Radio website.
