(280) Creating a Space to Thrive: Student Success through Wellness, Community, & Individualized Support

Objective : In 2018, national and school-level data demonstrated graduate students had increased rates of hopelessness, anxiety and being overwhelmed, prompting a USC team to attend the AACP Institute “Student Affairs: Strategies to Promote a Culture of Well-being Among Students and Faculty". As a result, two goals were set: 1) create a culture of well-being and community; 2) create systems and processes for individualized student support.

Methods: Project Wellness was established in 2019 to lead, shape, and foster a culture of well-being for students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Wellness-related initiatives begin the summer prior to enrollment and continue through graduation with the engagement of alumni and community.

The Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs works in partnership with faculty to ensure the success of the PharmD students. The office manages students’ academic success and assists with unique or challenging circumstances. With the pandemic and evolving needs of the students, the Assistant Director for Career and Academic Counseling and Wellness Counselor were hired to provide individualized support in career services and mental health.

Results: These efforts have been effective as supported by 2019-2022 AACP Graduating Student Surveys, with an increasing trend in students’ overall satisfaction (76.4% to 86.3%) and wellness (96.2% to 97.9%), and a consistently high graduation rate compared to national over the same period (2019-95.7%; 2020-97.9%, 2021-93.2%, and 2022-95.5%).

Conclusions: The rigor of a PharmD program, along with the pandemic and rapidly evolving dynamics of higher education, necessitate diverse strategies to support students’ wellness and academic success. Our efforts to build a culture of well-being and connection, along with individualized student support infrastructure, have led to an environment where students can succeed and thrive.