Fresno State was awarded a $10,000 Bringing Theory to Practice Project grant for “The Hope Intervention: Well-Being Research Project.”

“This project will help us fill critical needs in offering our students hope and helping them connect to the University community in a way that boosts educational success,” said Fresno State Provost Lynnette Zelezny.

“Our experience has shown us that it is not enough to help our students, particularly our first-generation, low-income students, deal only with academic and financial obstacles. We also need to address those students’ doubts, fears and sense of belonging because doubts about belonging often become self-fulfilling prophecies,” Zelezny said.

“The Hope Intervention” will focus on leveraging the quality of hope. “The project will help students flourish by promoting hope and a growth mindset,” said Dr. Christian Wandeler, project director and a psychologist who specializes in the development of human potential. “We will use the University community to kick-start a positive gain spiral of resources for each student.”

The project will be delivered through the DISCOVERe tablet initiative at Fresno State, which uses technology to strengthen student learning and engagement. The University will implement two interventions: one that targets hope and the other that targets the sense of belonging. Interventions will be customized versions of proven interventions for hope and mindset.

The grant was awarded by Bringing Theory to Practice, a foundation that funds and supports campus projects involving learning, well-being and civic development of students. During this grant period, Bringing Theory to Practice awarded more than $250,000. Fresno State is among 50 universities nationwide to receive a grant.

For more information, contact Gil Harootunian, director of University initiatives, at gharootunian@csufresno.edu or 559.278.4850.
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