State of Wellbeing, a podcast from South Dakota State University

Jack's Cupboard is the free, on-campus food pantry at South Dakota State University. In this State of Wellbeing episode, the Jack's Cupboard student leadership team discusses their goal to alleviate food insecurity among SDSU students by providing food and personal care items to Jackrabbits who need them.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define food insecurity and its impact on students' mental, social, and physical wellbeing.

2. Explain the purpose and services provided by Jack's Cupboard at SDSU.

3. Summarize how students can access Jack's Cupboard.

Processing Questions:

1. In what ways can food insecurity impact a student's academic performance and mental health?

2. What are some ways that students, faculty, and community members can support Jack's Cupboard?

3. What are some possible solutions to address food insecurity among college students on a larger scale?

From friendships and romantic partnerships to roommate dynamics and professional connections, this episode of State of Wellbeing discusses the importance of building and maintaining meaningful relationships. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the role relationships play in overall wellbeing and how small changes can lead to healthier, more balanced interactions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Listeners will learn strategies for nurturing and maintaining meaningful relationships through effort, communication, and mutual respect.

2. Listeners will gain insight into initiating and fostering new friendships by engaging in campus activities, practicing social confidence, and being open to new experiences.

3. Listeners will understand the importance of setting boundaries in relationships and practice asserting their needs in a respectful and healthy way.

4. Listeners will learn techniques for addressing and resolving conflicts, including direct communication, active listening, and seeking third-party support when necessary.

Processing Questions:

1. How do relationships contribute to overall wellbeing and what happens when they are not maintained?

2. How can you become more aware of your own needs and effectively communicate them in relationships?

3. Why is it important to address conflicts directly rather than avoiding them or using indirect communication methods like texting?

4. What strategies were mentioned for making new friendships in college? Which strategies do you think would work best for you?

In this episode of State of Wellbeing, Chief Wellness Officer Shari Landmark is joined by Victoria Dubbelde, an accounting lecturer, to discuss financial wellness with a focus on tax preparation. Learn about essential tax documents, record keeping, and practical tax organization tips.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key tax documents needed for filing taxes.

2. Learn about the VITA program and how it offers free tax preparation services for students and the community.

3. Learn practical tips for organizing tax records to reduce stress during tax season.

Processing Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced challenges during tax season due to missing or disorganized documents? What could you do differently this year?

2. How does understanding taxes contribute to overall financial wellness?

3. January is Financial Wellness Month. How can you use January as a time to set financial goals or improve your financial organization?

Financial Wellness Month continues with this episode focused on financial wellness from the student perspective. The host, Caitlin Walters, interviews Abram, a senior majoring in business economics and entrepreneurial studies, about practical financial strategies for college students and how financial health should integrate with other aspects of wellness.

Learning Outcomes:

1: Listeners will understand ways students can reduce spending while on campus.

2: Listeners will identify campus resources where they can connect with other students and learn about investing.

3: Listeners will be able to identify different sources for financial literacy information.

Processing Questions:

This episode of State of Wellbeing focuses on financial wellness, featuring Jennifer Olson, Senior Vice President of Business Banking at Bank Star Financial, and Shari Landmark, Chief Wellness Officer at South Dakota State University. Together, they explore the differences between debit and credit cards, the importance of building a credit history, and strategies for maintaining a healthy credit score. Jennifer shares personal anecdotes, practical advice, and insights on managing finances responsibly. Whether you're a student or a professional, this episode offers valuable tips for achieving financial fitness and avoiding common pitfalls.

Learning Objectives:

Processing Questions:

January is Financial Wellness Month. To start the month, Caitlin Walters, SDSU Wellbeing Specialist, and Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head, SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist, discuss saving money while in college. The episode emphasizes proactive financial management and provides actionable steps to achieve financial wellness.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Define the purpose and importance of budgeting as a foundational financial skill. 

2. Differentiate between short-term savings for emergencies and long-term investing for retirement or major life goals.

3. Locate and utilize campus and community resources for personal financial education and counseling.

Processing Questions:

1. What are some effective methods for tracking and managing a budget mentioned in the episode?

2. What is the recommended starting amount for an emergency fund, and how can students work towards building it?

3. Reflect on your current budgeting or spending habits. What adjustments could you make based on the advice shared in this episode?

4. What financial goals do you currently have, and how can you use the strategies from this podcast to achieve them?

In this episode of State of Wellbeing, host Teresa Seefeldt, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at South Dakota State University, is joined by Dean of Students, Toby Uecker. Together, they explore the "Red Folder" resource, a practical tool designed to assist faculty and staff in recognizing, responding to, and referring students in distress. Toby shares valuable tips on navigating challenging conversations with students, addressing mental health concerns, and building rapport. The discussion also highlights additional training opportunities, such as QPR, and the role of campus resources in supporting the wellbeing of the SDSU community.

Stressed about upcoming final exams? Get some tips from SDSU students Katie Milbrandt and Emma Ludens on how to manage that stress and have a successful finals week.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will be able to identify common mental health challenges (e.g., procrastination, lack of motivation, burnout) and their impact on academic success, particularly during stressful periods like finals.

2. Students will develop a structured approach to managing their time, including creating study schedules, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a balance between academic and personal activities.

3. Students will be able to navigate and use campus resources like tutoring, supplemental instruction, and success advising at the Wintrode Student Success Center effectively.

4. Apply stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive affirmations to manage test anxiety and maintain focus during exams.

Processing Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed. What strategies could you implement next time to maintain balance?

2. Imagine a friend is hesitant to seek academic support because they feel embarrassed. What advice would you give them?

3. How can visualizing success before an exam positively influence your performance?

4. What is one small change you can make this week to improve your academic habits?

November is Digital Health Month at SDSU! In this episode of the State of Wellbeing podcast, host Caitlin Walters, a wellbeing specialist, and guest Ashley Day, a staff counselor, discuss digital wellness and its importance in cultivating a balanced relationship with technology. Caitlin and Ashley share personal positives of technology use, like social connection and accessibility, but also note downsides, including reduced quality time with family and the tendency to "doomscroll." They also suggest practical strategies to counter procrastination, like breaking down tasks into manageable steps and planning study times based on individual productivity peaks. The episode underscores the role of self-awareness and intentionality in developing a healthier relationship with technology for improved wellbeing.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Listeners will be able to define digital wellness.

2. Listeners will be able to identify ways they can improve their relationship with digital technology.

3. Listeners will be able to identify some of the potential disadvantages of overuse of technology.

Processing Questions:

1. What are three ways you can improve your relationship with social media and technology.

2. What are some positives and drawbacks of digital technology use.

In this episode of the State of Wellbeing podcast, Caitlin Walters, the wellbeing specialist at South Dakota State University, discusses the importance of sleep with April Schneider, a nurse practitioner at the campus health clinic. They explore what good sleep looks like and highlight how poor sleep can lead to various issues, such as weakened immunity, impaired concentration, memory issues, mood disturbances, and physical performance deficits. The podcast provides practical advice on sleep hygiene, including creating a sleep-focused environment and avoiding activities like studying in bed. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize the role of sleep in physical recovery, memory retention, and overall wellbeing.

2. Describe the potential impact of inadequate sleep.

3. Learn strategies to improve sleep quality and identify resources for those experiencing sleep issues.

Processing questions:

1. What are some of the consequences of getting a poor night's sleep?

2. What is the importance of REM sleep in your sleep pattern?

3. What is your self-assessment of your sleep? Are you getting enough sleep? What is the quality of that sleep? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10.