Appalachian State University seeks to develop students who are resilient. This means they embody skills for responding effectively to challenging situations and bouncing back from obstacles. Such abilities can affect positive change for a myriad of social issues.
Use these Toolkit items to strengthen your resilience:
How to navigate the return to in-person activities
App State’s Dr. Kurt Michael offers insights on how to reintegrate into in-person activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 tips for maintaining a pandemic pod
A recent Appalachian State University graduate offers advice on how to choose and adhere to a pandemic pod to help prevent COVID-19.
Tips for staying physically active in winter
App State’s Dr. Becki Battista offers seven tips for how to stay motivated with an exercise routine this winter. “Even 10-minute bouts sprinkled throughout the day can help,” Battista said.
5 tips for creating a pandemic pod
App State’s Dr. Alex F. Howard offers tips on how to select a small group of people to allow for social connectedness while reducing risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Experiences that shape us
Mentors have helped App State student Zoe Huffines overcome personal challenges and tragedy to succeed as a Mountaineer.
Meditation skills for managing stress
It’s exam time! An Appalachian M.D. offers tips for how to de-stress.
The power of gratitude
Appalachian nursing professor Sarah Martin offers four ways to cultivate more gratitude in your life — and ultimately more happiness.
4 ways to distinguish real news from fake
Many college students say they have trouble discerning what’s real and what’s not in the information they read. Here are tips to help you navigate an uncertain media landscape.
NY Times columnist: Find your passion
Pulitzer Prize-winner Nicholas Kristof encourages Appalachian State University students wanting to make a positive difference in the world to first find something they’re passionate about.
3 tips for emotion regulation
Dr. Lisa Emery offers ways to manage your emotions in a healthy way without suppressing, ruminating or avoiding them.
8 dimensions of wellness
Appalachian’s Wellness and Prevention Services promotes health awareness and active lifestyles, taking a holistic approach through eight dimensions. Find out what they are.
Feeling upset? Pay attention, a learning opportunity has arrived
Freedom of speech belongs to everyone, not just those with whom we agree. Universities, therefore, are the ‘home of ideas.’ Hear all viewpoints and sharpen your arguments, Dr. Paul Gates advises.
Library assistance for classroom discussions
Librarians at Appalachian State University’s Belk Library and Information Commons can assist campus partners with resources to initiate and continue conversations about diversity and inclusion.
7 tips for resolving conflict – an Appalachian professor’s perspective
Award-winning First Year Seminar instructor Skip Rackmill offers ways to use conflict as a bridge to greater understanding when individuals or groups have a breakdown in connection.
Dialogue Enhancers and Stoppers
What promotes deeper dialogue or stops a conversation in its tracks? The Sustained Dialogue model includes advice for effective communication that can be useful in a variety of settings.
5 tips for enacting social change from Appalachian’s Ombuds Office
The Ombuds Office offers resources to connect students, faculty and staff with solutions – or ways to create solutions – in a localized, campus manner. Dr. Bob Hill, university ombud, offers five tips for students wanting to turn their social passion into social change.
Five ways to react to speech you don’t like (besides censorship)
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) offers ways to stay true to yourself and speak your mind when needing to address speech you disagree with.
Appalachian offers Koru Mindfulness classes to build resiliency
Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to the present moment without judgment. Appalachian State University offers mindfulness classes to students through its Wellness and Prevention Services.
David Pilgrim – Stories of Activism and Inclusion
Jim Crow Museum founder David Pilgrim encourages ally-ship at Ferris State University’s MINDS Aflame 2015, an event of inspiring speeches and thought-provoking performances.
Dr. Lee Bird on protecting the First Amendment
This leading expert on First Amendment rights and freedom of speech discusses protecting the First Amendment on university campuses.
Say What? Examining Freedom of Speech at App State
Appalachian presented a week of programming to help our community learn to balance a respect for and obligation to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution with an institutional culture of respect for thought, belief and community.
Created by Linda Coutant, Ed.D.
Illustration by Jim Fleri
Appalachian State University received the following awards for creating the Resilience Toolkit:
- A 2017 Gold Award for Digital Media/Web Content from Marcom Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP)
- A 2017 Silver Award in the General Website/Education category from W3 Awards, sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts
- A 2017 Bronze Award in New Media Content in the 5th Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards, sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report