The Well-being Academy helps faculty, staff, and students support the well-being of students on our campus. There are two training tracks: Motivational Interviewing and Academic Partnerships.
Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing (MI) helps people talk about changes they want to make in their lives based on their values and interests. The spirit of MI includes:
- Compassion – caring about the student’s well-being
- Acceptance
- Valuing the students worth
- Supporting their choices
- Understanding their feelings
- Giving positive feedback
- Partnership – working collaboratively with the student
- Evocation – helping students see their own strengths
If students feel accepted, they are more likely to think about changing for the better. Our trainings include:
- Compassionate Conversations (2 hours). Learn to talk to students in a respectful, caring way. It draws on student wisdom and is based in MI spirit. Free for U-M staff and students.
- Wellness Ambassador Training (8 hours, with lunch break). Learn about well-being, campus resources, and some MI basics. We will provide strategies to have helpful conversations to mobilize students toward their goals. Free for U-M staff and students.
- Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (20 hours over 4 weeks). Deep dive into MI foundations, skills, and strategies to help guide students through behavior change. It’s helpful for many Student Life staff, including therapists, advisors, supervisors, clinicians, and more. Free for Student Life staff and students (with permission). Cost for other U-M staff is $200.
Academic partnerships
These trainings are for faculty, instructors, and GSIs who want to build well-being into their work with students.
- Intro to the “Wellness Check-in” intervention for large, introductory courses. Learn how to partner with Wolverine Wellness to support students and staff through brief, targeted check-ins during high-stress points in the academic term.
- Consultations for integrating well-being into programming, curriculum, and policies. A consultation for academic or unit leaders to include well-being in their department’s practices and policies.
- Follow-up support for CRLT’s “Instructor’s Guide to Promoting Student Mental Health and Well-Being” course. A consultation or workshop to reinforce strategies and address challenges in course design and teaching practice introduced in the online course.
- Workshops for staff & faculty to support student well-being. Interactive workshops designed to equip participants with practical tools, strategies, and resources to recognize, support, and promote holistic well-being.
If you want to know more about any of our trainings, fill out our Wolverine Wellness form.