Previous Grants & Partnerships

Since 2019, we’ve worked with dozens of student groups, faculty, staff and university departments to support programs and events that foster student wellbeing. Are you thinking about applying for a Wellbeing Grant? Here are some examples that illustrate the wide variety and creativity of past campus Wellbeing Grant recipients.

Contact Wellbeing if you have questions or are interested in creating a program and event and aren’t sure where to start!

2024-2025

West Campus Apple Picking Excursion

Dr. Hee An Choi, an STH professor and Faculty-in-Residence in West Campus, took 30 students apple picking at an orchard in Northern Massachusetts to support their social, emotional and environmental wellbeing (Fall 2024).

BUMC Volleyball Tournament

With the support of a Wellbeing Grant, 56 students from the School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine competed in a volleyball tournament in the Fuller Gym over the course of the Fall semester. Students broke off into seven teams and competed in a playoff bracket format until a winner was crowned. The tourney was a great way to promote social and physical wellbeing (Fall 2024).

2023-2024

Taste of Boston History Tour

With the support of a Wellbeing Grant, CAS Writing recently hosted “Get a Taste of Boston History with Donuts and Pizza!” Students went on a walking tour of downtown Boston, stopping at landmarks where tour guides gave out donut samples from renowned local bakeries as they recounted interesting and lesser-known historical events and fun-facts that often had some connection to donuts. The students had a blast rating the various donuts they tried and picking their favorite flavors. They then wrote about their reflections on the experience. Students reported they were now more interested in learning about the history and culture of the region and they enjoyed getting to know other students and chatting with the instructor chaperones about food, classes, and their cultural experiences. (Fall 2023)

BU Madrid Habitat Restoration

Students studying abroad in Madrid, Spain worked with the Arroyo Meaques Association to learn about sustainability and reconnect with nature and themselves through habitat restoration. Association members first taught students about the local habitat, specifically the indigenous trees, then showed students how to plant trees. Each student planted three trees! Despite the weather, the students really enjoyed planting, connecting with nature and engaging in a bit of physical activity in one of Madrid’s largest public green spaces, Casa de Campo. (Fall 2023)

BU London Tree Planting

Students studying abroad in London volunteered with HandsOn London to plant tree whips that will eventually serve as a natural border and habitat for birds, bugs, and small mammals! Let by the community manager for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, BU students wrapped the day having planted 288 whips, equaling approximately 980 feet! Supported by a Wellbeing Grant, this outing served as a great way to cultivate social, intellectual, and environmental wellbeing. (Spring 2024)

2022-2023

GRS Apple Picking

The GRS Mathematics and Statistics department took eight master’s and PhD students apple picking at Doe’s Orchards in Harvard, MA. The outing was a chance for students to connect with each other and their faculty members, spend time in the outdoors, and build community through a classic New England activity! (Fall 2022)

SPH Ballin' Out

The School of Public Health Student Senate hosted an interactive event prior to final exams inviting SPH students to make their own DIY stress balls! The creating of a stress ball allowed students to be creative, enjoy the present moment, and participate in a fun activity that built community. It was a great event designed to promote social and emotional wellbeing! (Spring 2023)

Black Light Yoga

FitRec invited over 50 students to decorate their own yoga mats and enjoy a “glow-in-the-dark” yoga class! Designed to attract a variety of students who may never have tried yoga before, “Black Light Yoga” combined an hour’s worth of mat decorating with a special yoga class using black lights. The combination of arts and crafts and yoga proved to be wonderful in promoting social, emotional and physical wellbeing! (Spring 2023)

SCOMSA Winter Volunteering Event

SCOMSA (Student Committee on Medical School Affairs) hosted a “Winter Volunteering” event in December. They baked cookies, wrote holiday cards, and made stockings for Boston Medical Center patients in the pediatric ICU. (Fall 2022)

Stress ReLeaf: Working with Tea for Calm and Focus

Judicial Affairs and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground hosted “Stress ReLeaf: Working with Tea for Calm and Focus” on a bi-weekly basis during the academic year. This workshop invited students to take a deep dive into tea and tea culture through alternative brewing demonstrations, tastings, journaling, and more. (Fall 2022; Spring 2023)

BU Dublin Earth Day Excursion

BU Dublin (Study Abroad) hosted a special “Earth Day Excursion” on April 22. They visited County Wicklow, known as “Ireland’s Garden,” to work with an organization called HomeTree on a variety of activities designed to promote environmental wellbeing, carbon offsetting, and a renewed appreciation for nature. Activities included a wildlife walk, harvesting willow for weaving, digging up silt and clay, creating trickle dams, natural fence-making, and finally, planting trees! (Spring 2023)