The StairWELL Project shown under construction. Photo credit: Purdue Convocations.
November 23
The StairWELL Project
More hands make for light works, as the adage says. It has never been truer or more important in our work today. It takes more than one resource or one person to create the network of support systems our students require to succeed. The StairWELL Project is a prime example of how faculty, staff and students come together to create a program that can have a dramatic impact on Purdue students.
The StairWELL project was installed on the corner of Third Street and Martin Jischke Drive in the Chill Zone during September. The installation was the final piece of a year-long plan. Originally imagined by Abrar Hammoud, a clinical assistant professor in Purdue Polytechnic’s Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation, and Esteban Garcia Bravo, an associate professor in computer graphics technology for the Department of Computer Graphics Technology, the StairWELL project was built upon prior research. When Todd Wetzel, assistant vice provost for Student Life, heard their idea the collaboration truly began.
Photo of some of the collaborators on the StairWELL Project. Photo credit: Purdue Convocations
Over the next year a broad team of partners ideated about how an interactive sculpture could help normalize students' feelings. They also wondered if the interaction could also drive students toward resources. It was a heavy lift, requiring expertise from counselors, researchers, musicians, experts in computer graphics and construction, and students from a broad swath of disciplines. It was within this collaborative team that the StairWELL project was created.
The StairWELL project collects data from an online survey regarding students’ feelings and asks them to reflect on how they have felt over the last two weeks. This provides a fun and engaging way for students to survey themselves and observe their feelings. Students also draw a “squiggle” exemplifying how they are feeling in the moment and can project this squiggle on the interactive sculpture. When students pass by and see all the different emotion squiggles, they have the chance to relate to their fellow students and understand that they aren’t dealing with emotions alone.
Because of the hard work and combined expertise, thousands of students interacted with the installation, learning about themselves, taking time to reflect and exploring resources on campus like Steps to Leaps and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). In addition, the team learned a lot about our students. Collecting data about what students are feeling will allow us to explore what resources students use to positively impact their well-being. The results and data will help us enhance holistic well-being on Purdue’s campus.
The vision for the StairWELL Project was very broad. Think about your vision for your program. Could you have a broader impact if others, who were trying to achieve the same goal, joined your efforts? Sometimes, a brief conversation with a colleague opens up a new partnership that can take you to places you could never have gone alone.
