Add as a preferred source on Google


University of Kentucky Adds Well-Being Tab to Canvas Platform

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 02/06/24

The University of Kentucky (UK) has added a "well-being" tab to its Canvas learning management platform that addresses all aspects of student wellness. The tab presents a "Get Help" section for emergencies, questions-and-answers, and advice. Students will also be able to access Talkspace and TRACS crisis support.

The new addition was a joint effort by the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Office for Student Success (OSS).

Talkspace is an independent secure and confidential online video and text chat service that gives access to licensed mental health therapists offering several different kinds of therapy. Insurance may cover the cost, or there is a small copay.

TRACS, standing for Triage, Referral, Assistance, and Crisis Support, is a UK-based service available to students both in person and online. It provides referrals to housing, rent, utilities, and food resources and also mental health services for several needs.

In addition to these services, the well-being tab also connects students to information about "recreation centers, financial literacy programs, supportive communities, and networking opportunities," the university said.

"We picked a handful of resources that we felt could point students in any direction they needed to go — for any type of help," Jason Marcus, SGA vice president, said. "We are hopeful that we can continue to promote the multitude of resources that UK offers to students to help them succeed."

"SGA has been instrumental in developing this initiative, from bringing the idea to campus to overseeing implementation," Kirsten Turner, vice president for Student Success, added. "The Canvas well-being tab provides students with even greater access to the array of services available on our campus to support their success on a holistic level in keeping with the mission of SGA and Student Success."

More information on UK's student services is available on the Student Success page.

To read more about the well-being tab, visit the UKnow release page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.

  • three glowing stacks of tech-themed icons

    Research: LLMs Need a Translation Layer to Launch Complex Cyber Attacks

    While large language models have been touted for their potential in cybersecurity, they are still far from executing real-world cyber attacks — unless given help from a new kind of abstraction layer, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Anthropic.

  • Hand holding a stylus over a tablet with futuristic risk management icons

    Why Universities Are Ransomware's Easy Target: Lessons from the 23% Surge

    Academic environments face heightened risk because their collaboration-driven environments are inherently open, making them more susceptible to attack, while the high-value research data they hold makes them an especially attractive target. The question is not if this data will be targeted, but whether universities can defend it swiftly enough against increasingly AI-powered threats.

  • magnifying glass revealing the letters AI

    New Tool Tracks Unauthorized AI Usage Across Organizations

    DevOps platform provider JFrog is taking aim at a growing challenge for enterprises: users deploying AI tools without IT approval.