Mattering at Michigan

In 2026, the University of Michigan established the Mattering at Michigan Initiative. Thanks to a foundational gift from a generous donor, Mattering at Michigan enhances the central human concept of mattering: the belief that an individual brings value to their community and is valued by their community in return.

College campuses are uniquely poised to explore mattering. For a student, the college years are critical in fostering their sense of purpose. For a faculty or staff member, a belief in the value of their individual expertise and contributions not only strengthens their own sense of mattering, but also creates a more positive environment for students in turn.

The frame of mattering especially complements Michigan’s institutional dedication to the public good, preparing graduates and employees to lead in ways that bring them deep value while changing the world for the better. 

At Michigan, we believe that we cannot be the leaders and best if we do not feel our best. The Mattering at Michigan Initiative will help to ensure every member of our community not only knows they matter—but knows they matter here.

Efforts under this initiative include:

Expansion of large-course wellness check-ins
  • Large introductory courses are a standard part of the college experience, but they can be notoriously challenging and isolating.
  • In a wellness check-in, students in a large course complete a brief questionnaire in class that gauges their well-being, offers a meeting with a wellness coach, and offers a chance to connect with their instructor.
  • End-of-semester surveys indicate that this early-intervention model helps students—especially first-year and first-gen students—feel supported, reduce stigma, and connect to tailored mental health & academic resources.
  • Even students who do not take advantage of wellness coaching report a greater sense of well-being.
  • Another demonstrated benefit: instructors’ well-being and sense of mattering improve, too. 
  • Over 10,000 students have participated to date, and work is underway to significantly expand check-ins, including to Graduate Student Instructors.
Launch of Experience Rx: Social Prescribing at Michigan
  • Experience Rx will connect students to meaningful “prescriptions” to spend time in nature, the arts, and community engagement.
  • Together, these efforts strengthen belonging and mattering and align existing campus resources into a more coordinated referral network to address the increased need for social connectedness. 
  • “Prescriptions” can include group or solo activities, personalized to the interests of each individual student.
Increased enrollment in ALA 240: Living Well in College & Beyond
  • ALA 240 is a credit-bearing course that aims to reduce loneliness, strengthen mental health, build leadership skills, and increase social connectedness.
  • As a peer-facilitated course, ALA 240 also provides invaluable professional development to student instructors, all of whom are trained as peer health educators.
  • With a scalable expansion model, the course advances U-M’s health-promoting priorities while building a sustainable, campus-wide culture of mattering, success, and support.