Mindfulness at Metropolitan Universities

Abstract

3 This chapter highlights mindfulness and meditation practices at two metropolitan universities and includes a discussion of programming challenges, classroom teaching practices, and suggestions for expanding offerings for non-traditional learners. Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado, are each experiencing an emerging incorporation of mindfulness practices within classroom, hybrid, and online settings as well as developing some opportunities for meditation, mindfulness, and increasing well-being within the wider university community. While some examples are unique to the type of university in which faculty serve, metropolitan settings, specifically, can reveal practices for those that serve non-traditional adults within a variety of higher education institutions. As Kasworm (2008) discusses, nontraditional-age adult learners can face many challenges in higher education as they navigate the learning space while dealing with the complexities of managing work, families, and ongoing health and wellness issues, and the stress of multiple emotional demands. Adults in the wider university community, including faculty, staff, and students also have to navigate some of the same issues in managing multiple roles. The university examples below illustrate how mindfulness practices and programs can support individuals within academic communities as they move toward greater awareness of and the incorporation of tending to dimensions of well-being.Mindfulness practices take place both in and out of the classroom, and is one of the ways of tending to some of the dimensions of well-being. It is not uncommon for wellness centers or counseling centers to sponsor classes that are directly focused on mindfulness. These may manifest as meditation classes which might also be credit bearing, or yoga classes which may or may not always have mindfulness as part of the agenda. Many institutions also now recognize that faculty and staff benefit from mindful practice and sometimes offer faculty and staff development activities related to mindfulness or meditation that is aimed at the wellness needs of employees. In a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Bodovski (2018) addressed wellness in