In this final episode of our three-part series, we turn theory into practice with concrete strategies faculty can implement immediately to support student mental health. My guests wrap up this episode as they share actionable techniques for recognizing warning signs and creating supportive classroom environments. This episode also provides guidance for identifying students in distress.

This final portion of our conversation tackles the delicate balance between maintaining educational standards and providing mental health accommodation, offering practical solutions like universal design approaches that benefit all students.

Part 3, key topics include:

• Observable warning signs of student mental health distress
• Balancing academic rigor with mental health accommodation
• Universal design strategies that support all students
• Creative approaches to regular student wellness check-ins
• Future visions for integrating technology with human-centered care

Faculty contact information:
University of Delaware
Rebecca Wilson, MSW, LCSW: rlwilson@udel.edu
Human Services & Human Relations Admin Programs Coordinator | Instructor, Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

University of Delaware
Dr. Kate Riera, PhD: kriera@udel.edu
Assistant Professor, Human Services| Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

In this second installment of our three-part series, we explore the complex world of AI-powered mental health support and its implications for students. We continue the conversation with Becky and Kate as they examine the growing trend of students turning to AI chatbots for mental health assistance.

This episode tackles critical questions about the 24/7 availability of AI mental health tools versus the irreplaceable value of human therapeutic relationships. Our guests explore concerning scenarios around crisis intervention, discussing what happens when a student expresses suicidal ideation to a chatbot that cannot call emergency services or provide human follow-up care.

Part 2, key topics include:

• The therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone of effective mental health treatment
• Safety concerns and the need for human oversight in AI mental health tools
• How AI dependency could exacerbate social isolation and decision-making challenges
• Essential guardrails including informed consent, data privacy, and HIPAA compliance
• Ethical considerations and liability issues for institutions

Faculty contact information:
University of Delaware
Rebecca Wilson, MSW, LCSW: rlwilson@udel.edu
Human Services & Human Relations Admin Programs Coordinator | Instructor, Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

University of Delaware
Dr. Kate Riera, PhD: kriera@udel.edu
Assistant Professor, Human Services| Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

In this three-part series, host Lauren Kelley joins mental health experts to examine the evolving landscape of student mental health support in higher education, with a particular focus on the emerging role of AI-powered tools. The conversation begins by exploring how campus mental health conversations have transformed, addressing faculty misconceptions and establishing appropriate boundaries for educator involvement in student wellbeing. The experts provide concrete, actionable strategies faculty can implement immediately to recognize warning signs, create supportive classroom environments, and balance academic standards with mental health accommodations.

In this opening episode, explore the dramatic shift in campus mental health needs and faculty awareness with host Lauren Kelley as she welcomes Becky Wilson, MSW, LCSW, Coordinator of Undergraduate Human Services at the University of Delaware, and Dr. Kate Riera, Assistant Professor in the Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences.

Part 1, key topics include:

• The evolution of mental health conversations on campus
• Breaking down stigma and the role of social media
• Common faculty misconceptions about student mental health

Whether you're a faculty member, administrator, or student services professional, this episode provides essential context for understanding today's mental health landscape in higher education.

Faculty contact information:
University of Delaware
Rebecca Wilson, MSW, LCSW: rlwilson@udel.edu
Human Services & Human Relations Admin Programs Coordinator | Instructor, Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

University of Delaware
Dr. Kate Riera, PhD: kriera@udel.edu
Assistant Professor, Human Services | Dept. Human Development and Family Sciences

The second part of the episode focuses on the practical applications and implications of AI in the humanities. The professors discuss specific classroom activities and assignments that incorporate AI, such as using AI tools for writing, creating images, and enhancing language learning. They explore the ethical challenges and biases associated with AI, and how these issues are addressed in their teaching. The conversation also covers the importance of preparing students for the workforce by developing critical thinking, ethical use of AI, and other essential skills. The episode concludes with reflections on the future role of AI in the humanities and advice for other educators who are hesitant to integrate AI into their teaching.

Faculty contact information:
Dr. Ju-A Hwang: jahwang@udel.edu
Dr. Meghan McInnis-Dominguez: mmd@udel.edu, YouTube Channel | AI for the Humanities
Dr. Alison Terndrup: terndrup@udel.edu
Persephone Braham: braham@udel.edu

In the first part of the episode, 4 humanities professors, Alison, Persepone, Ju-A, and Meghan introduce themselves and share their initial reactions to using AI in their teaching practices. They discuss their initial fears, challenges, and motivations for experimenting with AI, highlighting the mixed emotions of excitement and hesitation. The conversation delves into how they navigated AI literacy, ethical considerations, and the development of AI policies in their classrooms. The professors share personal anecdotes about their journey from skepticism to curiosity and action, emphasizing the importance of balancing AI's capabilities with the essential human aspects of teaching, learning, and creativity.

In the first part of this podcast episode, Mathieu Plourde reflects on the impact of generative AI on higher education. Mathieu shares his extensive background in instructional design and educational technology, highlighting his work at the University of Delaware as well as his current institution, in the College of Business at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec. The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid adoption of AI tools, comparing it to the sudden shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mathieu emphasizes the need for academia to balance innovation with careful consideration, noting that institutions are designed to be resilient and deliberate in their adoption of new technologies. He also discusses the polarized opinions among faculty regarding AI, the increased ease of cheating, and the importance of maintaining academic integrity. The discussion underscores the role of instructional designers in guiding faculty through these changes and the potential for AI to enhance, rather than replace, the human elements of teaching and learning.

In the second part of the podcast episode, Mathieu discusses the current AI-driven initiatives at his institution. The focus is primarily on raising awareness among faculty members about AI's potential. Faculty members are exploring small-scale projects like voice cloning and AI text-to-speech tools to enhance productivity in creating lecture videos. Additionally, there are discussions about developing AI agents to provide students with preliminary feedback on their work, ensuring they meet assignment guidelines before submission. The institution is also conducting training sessions and workshops to educate faculty on the impact of AI, both in terms of academic integrity and practical classroom applications. Larger AI projects funded by university grants are in the pipeline, although the institution is still in the early stages of integrating these technologies comprehensively. The overall goal is to build a supportive environment where faculty can experiment with AI tools and understand their implications for teaching and learning.

Tools referenced in this episode by Mathieu:

• Suno
• Ideogram

In this insightful episode, join us for a fun discussion on the University of Delaware's innovative 10-Day Accessibility Challenges designed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills to create inclusive and accessible learning experiences for all students. We are joined by Jamie Summerfield, Educational Technology Consultant, and Molly Thomas, Instructional Designer, from Academic Technology Services, who share the inspiration behind these challenges, the types of tasks faculty will complete, and the valuable resources available to support them during these challenges. They will explore how daily bite-sized, tasks aim to shift mindsets about accessibility being difficult to implement. They also hope to break down any misconceptions about accessibility in Canvas courses. After the full episode, check out our funny blooper. Happy listening!

To sign up and for more details, visit:
sites.udel.edu/canvas/workshops
sites.udel.edu/canvas/2024/04/faculty-10-day-accessibility-challenge