AALHE 2018 Annual Conference

The purpose of this interactive session is to provide participants an introduction and direct experience of how mindfulness-based, stress reduction (MBSR) techniques have been effectively used to address anxiety and stress among college/university students concerning academics and particularly assessment situations.

Any educator across all disciplines who directly teaches, student affairs personnel, campus leaders (e.g., department chairpersons) and any individual involved with student welfare (e.g., counseling personnel) would benefit from experiencing this session.

Participants will be provided a brief overview of the research and literature around the use of mindfulness to address student anxiety, particularly, some of the research about anxiety and stress specifically associated with assessment. Then participants will be introduced to and engage into two research-based and easily implemented MBSR activities, dynamic breathing and visualization, used to lessen stress and anxiety (Rogers, 2017). The session will conclude with a debriefing of the activities and question and answer period including but not limited to how they might bring these practices back to their courses and campus. Participants should come prepared to actually experience the MBSR activities.