During the fall 2018 semester, a small group of students at UConn Hartford spent two hours a week in an ordinary classroom doing not-so-ordinary things.
Meditating. Stretching and doing yoga poses. Practicing gratitude.
The brainchild of Lynn Papacostas Ginolfi, a student counselor and the Hartford regional coordinator of UConn’s Student Support Services (SSS) program, the pilot Resilience through Mindfulness course taught 16 students an array of mindfulness practices, equipping them with new tools to help manage stress.
SSS provides first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented populations of students with access to the University, services to support their graduation goals, and programs to enhance their growth at UConn and beyond. UConn’s SSS is a Federal TRIO Program, which provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and motivates students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education.
Julie Bartucca of the UConn 360 podcast spoke with Papacostas Ginolfi about why she’s hoping this is part of a larger shift to focus on the whole student, and learned from some of the students how the course has already helped them cope with school and their personal lives.
Listen to the podcast:
For full episodes of the UConn 360 podcast, visit uconn.edu/uconn360-podcast.
