What are the benefits to joining the Coalition?

Broadly speaking, member institutions benefit in two primary ways: opportunities for collaboration and learning, and increased visibility for their work.

Opportunities for Inter-Institutional Learning and Collaboration

Members become part of a community of colleges and universities working to improve the undergraduate experience and better prepare students to flourish in work and life.

• Opportunities for peer learning and collaboration include:
• Participation in learning communities, workshops, and convenings where institutions share ideas, challenges, and emerging practices
• Free attendance for academic leaders at the Coalition’s annual Leaders’ Meeting
• Reduced registration fees for the Coalition’s Annual Conference
• Access to shared resources and conversations with peer institutions pursuing similar goals
• Free participation in an assessment tool currently being developed to measure key elements of the undergraduate experience, including wellbeing, purpose, agency, belonging, experiential learning, engagement with faculty, and more

Visibility for Institutional Work

• A core part of the Coalition’s mission is to highlight and amplify innovative work happening across member campuses.
• The Coalition supports this visibility through:
• A dedicated member page on the Coalition website featuring institutional information, updates, and related stories
• Opportunities to be featured in the Coalition’s Best Practice Repository and on the LearningWell Exchange
• Features in LearningWell Magazine, and LearningWell Radio, the Coalition podcast, and other storytelling channels
• Broader visibility through stories and thought leadership featured in academic publications and major media outlets

Is there a cost to joining the Coalition?

No. There is no cost to join the LearningWell Coalition. The Coalition is supported through foundation funding, which allows institutions to participate as members without paying dues.

There are costs associated with attending certain events, including the Coalition’s Annual Conference. Conference registration fees are used to support the costs of hosting and operating the event.

How do I join the Coalition?

Institutions join the LearningWell Coalition through an application process centered around a specific initiative or area of work on their campus.

Prospective members can learn more through the Application Information and Application Instructions pages on our website.

In general, member initiatives should:

• Align with the Coalition’s mission and vision around preparing students to flourish in work and life
• Meaningfully involve faculty and academic leadership, rather than being housed solely within student affairs, though many of our members are partnerships between student and academic affairs
• Be designed to reach a broad portion of the undergraduate student population when fully implemented (note: pilot programs and emerging initiatives are welcome to apply)
• Demonstrate a commitment to assessment, including measures related to wellbeing, purpose, belonging, agency, experiential learning, mentorships and meaningful relationships with faculty, or related outcomes
• Reflect institutional commitment and support from senior leadership.

For institutional membership, applications must include an endorsement letter signed by a president, provost, or other senior leader. Affiliate members are not required to meet this criterion.

How does the Coalition define wellbeing?

Recent research shows that specific college experiences—such as emotionally supportive mentoring and opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world problems—promote lifelong wellbeing and work engagement. Strong evidence demonstrates that these experiences foster identity development, belonging, agency, and purpose, which in turn enhance wellbeing throughout life.