Coalition for Transformational Education

Join Us for the 2025 National Conference of the Coalition for Transformational Education! We are excited to announce that our 2025 conference will be hosted by the University of Miami from March 31 – April 1, 2025 (with a welcome reception on March 30th). This year’s event will feature keynote speakers who are experts in higher education, social psychology, and attention: Graham Burnett – Historian of Science and Professor, Princeton University Eric Mazur – Balkanski Professor of Physics, Harvard University Mary Murphy – Social Psychologist, Indiana University Together, we’ll explore transformational learning, share innovative ideas, and build connections that will shape the future of education. ?? Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/dXwFMtQj Early Registration (before 1/31/25): $200 General Registration: $250 Coalition Members: $200 Students: $50 Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of the conversation! We look forward to seeing you there!

There is still time to register for the webinar on how higher ed can help students find purpose, for what is sure to be a fascinating conversation with our featured panelists: William Damon, Wendy Fischman and Stephanie Marken. If you can't make it on Wednesday, a video of the conversation will be sent to all registrants. Learn more:

In a new PNAS Nexus Perspective, Holly White, Debra Allen, Keith Buffinton,?Dana Humphrey,?Marjorie Malpiede,?Richard Miller,?and John Volin make a compelling case: student well-being should a goal of pedagogy, along with GPA and retention. The article highlights higher education practices that foster belonging, purpose, and civic engagement, offering six standout examples, including digital storytelling at University of Michigan-Dearborn, first-year research experiences at University of Maine, and civic and ethical engagement at The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University. This shift requires more than just new programs—it demands a transformation in how we approach education. The authors call for more research and innovative approaches to make student well-being a top priority in higher ed. Read more here:

We're excited to announce the launch of the new Coalition for Transformational Education website! Our updated platform was redesigned to better highlight the incredible work being done by our members and to showcase their projects that are shaping the future of higher education. Coalition members are leading the way in learner-centered education that lays the foundation for wellbeing and work engagement throughout life, and we are thrilled to be able to share their stories! https://thecte.org/

The Coalition for Transformational Education is proud to partner with LearningWell and Gallup for this essential conversation on the role of purpose in higher education. Join us on Wednesday, October 2 at 2:00 PM ET for a special webinar, "Meaning Matters: How Higher Education Can Help Students Find Purpose in Life and Career," featuring William Damon, Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence, Wendy Fischman, Project Director at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Stephanie Marken, Senior Partner at Gallup. ?? Register now!

A recent op-ed by our Executive Director, Keith Buffinton, emphasizes the need for higher education to prioritize transformational learning experiences. It is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that a college education should have on personal and intellectual growth. Read more here:

We are excited to announce that the Coalition has partnered with the University of Florida's Center for Teaching Excellence to develop a new Faculty Learning Community focused on “Promoting Wellbeing through Learner-Centered Education.” The Learning Community will provide a unique opportunity to engage with peers from across the country to explore the impact of the Gallup Big Six Experiences on student well-being and develop practical strategies to integrate these experiences – Support Experiences, Experiential Learning, Purpose, Community, Social Capital, and Calling – into teaching practices.?Through a combination of workshops, guest speakers, and collaborative projects, the workshop will explore the importance of meaningful faculty-student relationships and experiential learning in creating a supportive and engaging academic environment. To learn more, visit our website and sign up for our newsletter below! https://thecte.org/

UMaine Provost and Coalition for Transformational Education steering committee member John Volin joined LearningWell’s Marjorie Malpiede this week for a lively conversation on introducing research opportunities to first-year college students as a pathway to wellbeing. Listen to “Invented Here” on LearningWell Radio, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Invented Here, a new LearningWell Radio miniseries in collaboration with the Coalition for Transformational Education, features?stories of?innovation in learner-centered education that fosters life-long wellbeing,?spotlighting initiatives to advance identity, agency, belonging and purpose at colleges and universities across the country. The first episode of Invented Here comes out tomorrow. Subscribe to LearningWell Radio on?Spotify?or?Apple Podcasts?to listen! https://lnkd.in/dkt5u4cA

At the?University of Southern California, Professor?Harly Ramsey?and Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity Director?Julie Loppacher?are using self-determination theory to bring wellbeing into the classroom. With 5-minute self-regulation exercises, Ramsey and Loppacher aim to mitigate a “culture of normalized stress” among engineering students — yielding powerful results for students. Read the article and sign up for the LearningWell newsletter:? https://lnkd.in/gXWRa4D8