The University of Tennessee System is investing $60,000 in a new round of wellness mini-grants to support 12 campus-led projects designed to elevate student well-being and strengthen academic success across the UT System.
“Student success isn’t just about what happens in the classroom,” said Dr. Bernie Savarese, vice president for academic affairs, research and student success for the UT System. “Students are more likely to succeed when they have the support and resources they need, and that includes support for their well-being. These grants are one way we can help campuses pilot new ideas, test what works and share approaches that could benefit students across the UT System.”
Four entities at UT Martin were the recipients of mini-grants through this program:
UT Resilience Response: A Train-the-Trainer Model for Student Wellness,
Campus Safety and Student-Facing Support Professionals
UT Resilience Response will unite public safety, student health and counseling services, success counseling, student conduct and care, and housing to train student-facing professionals and student leaders in practical resilience, connection and referral skills.
The reusable toolkit will support continued use at UT Martin and replication across the UT System, reflecting the understanding that supporting those who support students is essential to strengthening student care systemwide.
The principal investigator for this mini-grant is Dr. Michael O’Neill, director of the Department of Public Safety. The co-principal investigator is Allison Castleman, director of the student health and counseling services.
Chill Together, Soar Together: A 30-day Wellness Education and Recovery Challenge
Chill Together, Soar Together challenges UT Martin student leaders, faculty and staff to learn about the importance of physical recovery, sleep and nutrition through a friendly competition in mixed teams using HUME Band 2.0 wearable technology, proving that the key to a healthier, higher-performing campus is not working harder but recovering smarter together. Following the campus-wide challenge, the hope is to challenge other campuses across the system to do the same.
The principal investigator for this mini-grant is Dr. Angelina MacKewn, profesor of pschology. The co-principal investigator is Dr. Laura Brown, professor of pedagogy.
One UT West Tennessee Student Wellness Collaborative: Building a
Regional Model for Student Wellbeing and Success
The One UT West Tennessee Student Wellness Collaborative will bring together UT campuses, regional centers, health-care organizations and community partners to create and deliver a regional student wellness curriculum focused on strengthening well-being, resilience and student success. The project will establish a scalable model that can be replicated across the University of Tennessee System to improve student wellness outcomes statewide.
The principal investigator for this mini-grant is Dr. Allan Sterbinsky, lecturer of political science. The co-principal investigator is Dr. Altha Stewart, senior associate dean for Community Health Engagement and director of the Center for Youth Advocacy and Well-Being at UT Health Sciences.
Support on the Spectrum
Support on the Spectrum is a wellness initiative that provides neurodivergent students with specialized coaching, emotional regulation strategies, sensory-friendly supports and peer connections to improve mental health, academic success and overall well-being. Using existing campus resources, the program creates a sustainable model that can be replicated across the University of Tennessee System.
The principal investigator for this mini-grant is Will Gibson, director of the Accessibility Resource Center. The co-principal investigator is Dr. Mark McCloud, vice chancellor for access and engagement.
Approximately 50 proposals were submitted, highlighting the creativity and dedication of UT faculty and staff developing practical, evidence-based approaches to supporting student health. The selected projects emphasize scalable solutions that can be shared across the UT System.
To be considered, each proposal was required to:
- Align with at least one of the eight dimensions of wellness defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
- Demonstrate collaboration across departments, campuses or the UT System; and
- Show measurable, scalable impact that addresses a real need.
“Supporting these projects is an investment in our students’ success and in the people who serve them every day,” said Amelia Ailey, director of systemwide student wellness. “Faculty and staff know their students and their campuses best. These grants give them the opportunity to turn that knowledge into practical solutions that can make a difference in students’ lives.”
“These projects show what’s possible when we bring people and ideas together around student well-being,” said UT System Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Jessi Gold. “From financial wellness to building connection and supporting students through the challenges they face, these projects tackle a range of needs and bring together even more faculty and staff from across departments and campuses than they did last year. We look forward to seeing what they accomplish over the next year and sharing those lessons across the UT System.”
The 2026 grants will support projects ranging from using AI to bridge gaps in campus wellness support and expanding humanities-based wellness programs to creating year-long opportunities for students to build essential life skills, developing financial wellness programs and training student-facing professionals in resilience, connection and referral skills.
Grant recipients will spend the coming year developing their projects and will share their progress and early outcomes at the 2027 UT System Wellness Summit. For the full list of the 12 grant recipients and their projects, visit the UT Wellness Mini-Grant Program website.
