“鶹Ƶ By {Your} Design” is headed for 鶹Ƶ 101 courses this fall. This workshop assists students in the creation of a holistic 鶹Ƶ plan, reflecting the balance of academics, experiences, and student wellness. Design Thinking Student Catalysts lead the workshop through hands-on activities and discussions.
鶹Ƶ By Design is ready to launch their student-oriented workshop, “鶹Ƶ By {Your} Design,” in 鶹Ƶ 101 courses this fall. This workshop was developed by the Director of Design Thinking Danielle Lake, 鶹Ƶ 101 Director Brandy Propst and Student Catalysts Kaitlyn Murphy and Jacqueline Baumann. The workshop encourages 鶹Ƶ 101 students to create a more intentional, holistic, and flexible 鶹Ƶ plan, balancing academic and social experiences with student wellness.
“I have worked with First-Year students in so many different areas across 鶹Ƶ’s campus,” says Kaitlyn Murphy, Co-Designer of the workshop. “It’s really obvious how many students don’t think about how to get the most out of their time at 鶹Ƶ during their first year. I hope that through this workshop, First-Years can begin mapping out their holistic experience at 鶹Ƶ from the first few months they’re on campus.”
The workshop reinforces 鶹Ƶ’s Act-Belong-Commit initiative, positive mental health and holistic wellness for 鶹Ƶ community members. 
“This is a great opportunity for our incoming students to start off their college career building health habits that support their mental health and holistic wellness,” says Caroline Ketcham, professor of exercise science and chair of the Department of Exercise Science. “The Act-Belong-Commit framework is very simple-do something, do something with someone, do something meaningful-giving individuals actionable advice that can be weaved into their everyday lives as well as threaded throughout their 鶹Ƶ journey.”
To design their holistic graduation plan, 鶹Ƶ 101 students are asked to evaluate their high school experiences by using 鶹Ƶ’s Experiential Learning Requirements (ELRs) and additional 鶹Ƶ experiences. They will develop a chart categorized by these ELRs and 鶹Ƶ experiences, then evaluate their emotions about each recorded experience. This strategy will assist students in deciding which experiences may be a good fit for their plan.
The “鶹Ƶ By {Your} Design” workshop also integrates 鶹Ƶ’s ! The toolkit helps students design their 鶹Ƶ experiences by encouraging them to engage in and reflect upon conversations with the 鶹Ƶ community.
鶹Ƶ 101 students will also get the chance to interview multiple students, faculty, and staff members who have diverse experiences with the student’s ELRs and 鶹Ƶ experiences of interest. This activity allows students to develop a deeper understanding of 鶹Ƶ’s curriculum while fostering valuable campus connections, contributing to a more personal, meaningful, and valuable 鶹Ƶ plan.
By the end of the workshop, students will be equipped with a range of design thinking tools, and listening tips and tricks for building connections with others. They will also learn about the need for purpose and play in their holistic 鶹Ƶ plan, a topic researched last summer by the Center for Design Thinking for their
“There’s so much research out there that talks about how critical play is in adulthood, despite it being over-stigmatized and undervalued,”
explains Jacqueline Baumann, Student Catalyst for “鶹Ƶ By {Your} Design and Co-Designer of the “Playful Learning” workshop. “When we as adults are able to tap into our own play personalities and become cognizant of them, we can really bring more purpose and passion into our everyday lives. Through play and design thinking, we can help students take with them what they loved from high school, leave behind what they didn’t like so much, and explore all that 鶹Ƶ has to offer.”
“鶹Ƶ By {Your} Design” provides fundamental learning experiences for the incoming Class of 2025, but it has the potential to become a more permanent component of a First-Year’s growth.
“I really hope this workshop will be a part of 鶹Ƶ 101 classes throughout the years,” Murphy says. “If a student has a goal they want to meet and the Center can help them do so, then I would love to see the Center creating more workshops in addition to this one in order to help those students.”
Head to 鶹Ƶ By Design’s website to learn more, request a workshop, or register for a consultation.
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Danielle Lake
Director of Design Thinking and Associate Professor of Human Service Studies
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Caroline Ketcham
Associate Dean of 鶹Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of Exercise Science
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Brandy Propst
Director of 鶹Ƶ 1010 and Assistant Director of Academic Advising
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Jessie Moore
Director of the Center for Engaged Learning and Professor of English
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Paul Miller
Professor of Exercise Science