What’s Happening in Wellbeing
Be sure to check out Student Wellbeing In The Media too!
“Analog U” from LearningWell Magazine
Student Wellbeing Executive Director, Dr. Carrie Landa, discusses BU Unplugged, a Student Wellbeing cross-campus initiative designed to create intentional, structured spaces for BU students to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with each other.
Through phone-free events in classrooms and campus-based programs, BU Unplugged invites students to experience what becomes possible when they put their phones away, while normalizing how hard it can be to disconnect. Whether it’s a shared meal, a creative activity, a class discussion, or simply time with friends, BU Unplugged is built on a simple belief: some of life’s best moments happen when we’re fully present for them.
"Carrie Landa, the executive director of Student Wellbeing at Boston University, said she has heard from students that they are eager for device-free spaces — but they’re conflicted, too. They appreciate how their phones connect them with friends and peers and worry that being too offline may cause them to miss out. Landa is taking these mixed feelings into account as she promotes her own device-free effort, BU Unplugged, using Yondr pouches that students slip their phones into and can only unlock with a specific magnetic key. “Creating messaging for something like this is hard,” she said, “because we want to acknowledge the loss while also acknowledging and reminding students of the gain.”
Warm Coat Drive Kicks Off October 9
Have an extra coat that you can donate to a BU student this fall?
The annual Warm Coat Drive is an opportunity for all members of the BU community to donate gently worn or new coats that will be distributed to BU students in need. Any remaining coats will be donated to Goodwill Industries after the event.
Drop-off a coat from October 9-16!
Collection bin locations:
Charles River Campus
- FitRec Lobby
- George Sherman Union Lobby, next to brick wall TV screen
- One Silber Way
- Questrom Lobby
Medical Campus
- BUMC, Med Building, 1st floor lobby
- GSDM, First Floor outside room G-170
If you are a student worried about affording a coat this winter and would like to inquire about receiving a free coat, please fill out the Coat Drive Interest Form below.
The Warm Coat Drive is part of a larger effort to ensure students’ most basic needs are met. Click here to find resources that support core needs both on campus and in the local community including meals, clothing, and emergency needs.
This drive is a partnership between the Newbury Center, Student Wellbeing, and Sustainability.
Coat Drive Interest Form
Thank you for your interest in receiving a warm coat this winter. We will email you an invitation to our coat pick up once details are available.
BU Unplugged is a Student Wellbeing cross-campus initiative designed to create intentional, structured spaces for BU students to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with each other. Through phone-free events in classrooms and campus-based programs, BU Unplugged invites students to experience what becomes possible when they put their phones away, while normalizing how hard it can be to disconnect. Whether it’s a shared meal, a creative activity, a class discussion, or simply time with friends, BU Unplugged is built on a simple belief: some of life’s best moments happen when we’re fully present for them.
BU students have told us clearly: they want space to unplug
In a 2024 brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics, half of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 spent four or more hours on screens per day. Of students who spend greater than four hours, they are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than their peers1. Smart phone use among university students has also been linked to sleep deprivation, attention deficits, and social challenges — three of the most commonly reported barriers to student success and wellbeing2.
And BU students themselves are paying attention. They recognize the value phones play in day-to-day life , but are also attuned to how disconnecting can be beneficial for their health and their relationships. In a Summer 2026 survey conducted by BU Student Wellbeing, students reported the following benefits of putting down their phones:
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79% increased sleep
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71% increased presence in day-to-day life
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66% increased social connection
BU Unplugged meets students where they are, acknowledging the very real role technology plays in their lives, while creating low-pressure, rewarding opportunities to experience something different. BU Unplugged answers that demand with structure, community, and a simple mechanic: the Yondr pouch-a lockable phone storage pouch students carry with them — but cannot open without a magnet operated by staff. It removes the opportunity to check phones by removing the option, freeing students to be fully present. This transforms the abstract idea of unplugging into a concrete, shared, and supported experience. BU Unplugged will run in classes and events where students will be invited to place their phone in a pouch, then engage phone-free in real-life community building activities
This Fall, Student Wellbeing will partner with folks across colleges and departments to bring BU Unplugged to our students. Want to have students unplug at your next event or class? Submit your request here!
Here are some of the places you'll find BU Unplugged in Fall 2026:
- Saturday, August 29: New Terrier Orientation
- Monday, September 21 - Monday, November 2: Breath, Rhythm & Music for Your Wellbeing
- Thursday, October 1: LGBTQIA+ History Kickoff Celebration
- Tuesday, October 13: First-Gen Crafts and Connections
- Tuesday, October 20: GradGather Social at Sunset Cantina
- Thursday, October 29: LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center Halloween Paint-or-Treat
1. Zablotsky B, Arockiaraj B, Haile G, Ng AE. Daily screen time among teenagers: United States, July 2021–December 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 513. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024.
2. Silva Santos, R. M., Ventura, S. de A., Nogueira, Y. J. de A., Mendes, C. G., Miranda, D. M. de, & Romano-Silva, M. A. (2026). The associations between screen time and mental health in older adults: a systematic review. Behaviour & Information Technology, 45(10), 1989–2006.
GradGather Returns for Fall 2026!
GradGather is a program that connects BU grad students from different departments for casual, flexible meetups. We want to help you network, make friends, and build community by breaking down barriers between departments and schools.
Once you make an account, you can match with new groups each week throughout the semester. You can use the website or mobile app to chat with your group and make a plan to get coffee, explore around campus, or anything you’d like.
- Download the GradGather iOS app.
- Request early access to our Android app.
- Or access GradGather on our website bu.gradgather.com.
We hope you join the thousands of BU grad students who have participated and gathered together since 2022. We welcome questions or feedback and can be reached directly at admin@gradgather.com.
For more on GradGather's history, check out this feature on BU Today.
About the founders: Eric Wellers (LAW '24) and Will Saunders (GRS '24) joined forces with a great idea: to connect graduate students that are interested in meeting peers from other programs on campus. Originally piloted by Eric at LAW, Will brought his tech expertise to the table by creating an application to match graduate students into trios as an opportunity to socialize and foster community. With lots of work and determination, BUMeetUp launched in Fall 2022, and both students won first place in the 2024 $12.5k Student Wellbeing Competition.
“What We Get Wrong About College Cannabis Use”
Student Wellbeing Executive Director, Dr. Carrie Landa comments on the ways "...larger social trends among college students may be affecting substance use habits" in this LearningWell article.
Breath, Rhythm & Music for Your Wellbeing Fall 2026
Energize your body, quiet overwhelming thoughts, and optimize your cognitive performance. Join Professor Igor Iwanek in learning the yogic practice of Rhythmic Breath Control (RBC)—a powerful technique rooted in Naad Yog, the yoga of sound. Imagine your body as the hardware and your mind as the software. How do we keep this system charged and balanced? RBC teaches you to create a “power station” for the body and mind through breath guided by the rhythms of North Indian Classical music. Backed by modern research, this interactive series provides powerful techniques to promote resilience and wellbeing.
All workshops will integrate BU Unplugged this semester! 
Mondays from 5:30 - 6:30 pm in FLR 207 at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground.
Mini-Series One: ‘Emotions, Stress & Resilience’
- Monday, Sept. 21 | Booting the System: Intro & Beginning RBC Practices: Learn the foundational practices to down-regulate stress and reset your nervous system.
- Monday, Sept. 28 | Upgrading the Software: Next-Level Protocols & Q&A: Dive into more advanced breath patterns to build long-term stress resilience, followed by a live interactive Q&A.
- Monday, Oct. 5 | The Resonance: Immersive integration with live music: Uninterrupted breath journey to lock in your physical and emotional reset.
Mini-Series Two: ‘Happiness, Focus & Awareness’
- Monday, Oct. 19 | Clearing the Cache: Intro & Naad Yog Foundations: Practices to cultivate presence and somatic joy.
- Monday, Oct. 26 | Focus on Focus: Deeper Rhythmic Conditioning & Q&A: Next-level focus techniques to sharpen your cognitive baseline & Q&A.
- Monday, Nov. 2 | Sound into Stillness: Immersive practice with live music: Designed to heighten your everyday awareness.
Thanks to our sponsors:
- BU Student Wellbeing
- BU Office for the Arts
- CAS Experiential Connector
- Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground
For an idea of what to expect, check out Dr. Iwanek's appearance on BU Today:
Stress ReLeaf Uses Tea for Mindfulness
Discover this popular Student Wellbeing initiative that uses tea as a catalyst for mindfulness. Through education and relaxation, we will explore the tea brewing ritual of gong fu cha - making tea with skill- and cultivate a space that focuses on the present moment in a light-hearted, whimsical fashion.
Workshop offered Mondays, from 4-5 pm, at the LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center, 2nd floor, 808 Commonwealth Avenue.
Registration required. Once registration opens for each week, link will be provided here.
Register for the October 5 workshop here.
Fall 2026 Session Dates:
- October 5
- October 19
- October 26
- November 2
- November 9
- November 16
- November 30
- December 7
A combination of photography and livestreaming will be used during each workshop. The facilitator will respect the privacy of those students who do not wish to be photographed or filmed.
Be sure to check out this video in BU Today for a sneak peek at this awesome workshop!
Community Coloring Mondays This Fall in the GSU
Starting Monday, September 14 and running until December 7, join fellow students in The Link in the GSU from 11 am to 1 pm for Community Coloring. There is no agenda! Just sit for for a few minutes (or as long as you want), color a section of our community mandala, and chat with others. This semester, this pop-up will be staffed by two Student Wellbeing student leaders, Daniel Krewson (KHC '29) and Shifa Valani (CAS '27).
Did you know coloring is good for your wellbeing? Taking a break, and connecting with others, also contribute to feeling good.
See you Mondays!
Money Matters: Financial Wellbeing Workshop Series 2026-2027
Financial wellbeing is a critical component of overall wellbeing. Student Wellbeing is pleased to introduce a new year-long series of workshops to help support our students' financial wellness.
Through the Money Matters Financial Wellbeing Workshop Series, Student Wellbeing is partnering with campus and community organizations to help students build financial knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to navigate common financial decisions throughout their academic journey and beyond.
Whether students are learning how to bank in the United States, create a budget, understand credit, prepare taxes, or begin investing, these workshops are designed to provide accessible, actionable information in a supportive environment.
The series is open to all Boston University students. Some events are offered in collaboration with partner offices and external organizations and may be tailored to specific student populations, including international students, first-generation students, graduate students, and students seeking additional financial resources.
Partners
Student Wellbeing is proud to collaborate with BU Financial Assistance (serving undergraduate students); BU Student Support Services and Housing Assistance (serving graduate students); Kindros Foundation; and JP Morgan Chase.
Workshop Schedule
Budgeting: Understanding Your Inflows and Outflows 10/7/26
Saving and Investing: How to Get Started 11/17/26
Taxes: Take the Fear out of Filing 2/4/27
Credit Scores and Credit Cards: From Swipe to Score 3/8/27
Credit Scores and Credit Cards: From Swipe to Score 3/8/27
Questions?
Contact Student Wellbeing at studentwellbeing@bu.edu.
Money Matters: Virtual Workshop for Grad Students August 4
Calling all Grad Students: Join us for a virtual workshop Tuesday, August 4 at noon, Money Matters.
Graduate students face unique challenges while pursuing an advanced degree, including adapting a personal budget to include tuition, fees, books, resources, living expenses, and other needs. In this session, learn more about how to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed financial decisions. Participants will explore key topics including budgeting, understanding and building credit, and available financial resources at Boston University and beyond to support their overall financial wellbeing.
Watch for more Money Matters workshops throughout the upcoming school year!
Hosted by Student Wellbeing, in collaboration with the Financial Aid Office, BU School of Law.