The Compassion Project

Cohort
2021
Fellow(s)
Natalie Czimskey
Initiative Type
professional development opportunity
program
supplemental resource
Initiative Theme
Student Success
Student Wellbeing
Audience
Faculty/Instructors
Project Focus
Improving Teaching and Learning
Institutional Resource

Evidence from allied health fields shows that patients’ relationship with their provider is often the most therapeutic aspect of the health care encounter (Tresolini & Pew-Fetzer Task Force, 1994).  I believe this is true in education as well; the student relationship (perception of care/compassion) from the instructor may be more important than the instructional method.   

I created a survey for UT undergraduate students to assess how they prefer to receive compassion in the classroom.  Approximately 200 individuals responded, and provided feedback. The results indicated that students believe receiving care/compassion is important (97.85% agreed; 80.65% said very to extremely important). Students felt cared for when instructors: 

  • demonstrated concern and made all materials accessible  

  • demonstrated concern for class’s understanding of content during lecture delivery  

  • demonstrated flexibility for  course schedule when necessary  

  • consulted class on due date appropriateness  

  • make classroom and communication feel open and safe  

  • facilitate a collaborative learning experience 

  • knew me by name  

  • shared personal information/anecdotes to establish personal connection in a professional setting, as appropriate  

  • addressed relevant campus occurrences that may have affected my emotional well-being  

  • addressed non-course-content related occurrences that may have impacted my well-being  

  • checked-in with how the class was feeling before diving into content  

  • made office hours available and feel safe  

  • offered to communicate about non-course-content related occurrences within a reasonable scope  

  • valued and respected my privacy  

  • valued and respected my needs 

Additionally, 72.13% of students said they contributed SIGNIFICANT EFFORT in courses with compassionate instructors, indicating that effort was NOT diminished by compassion.   

Impacts from This Initiative

Slide presentation titled "Academic Culture"

Teaching as Well Being (UT System)

Date
Fellow(s)
Natalie Czimskey
Karen M Landolt
Kristie J Loescher

3 different PTF projects presented:

Loescher project focuses on: Elevate excellence in the classroom through new strategies to understand, measure, and improve rigor in all courses 

•each class is designed and delivered with the expectation of students learning at high levels •each student demonstrates learning at high levels 

•each student is supported so they can learn at high levels

 

View the poster here