One of the plan’s earliest and most significant commitments was to grow staff dedicated to student mental health and wellbeing. Over the past three years, Dartmouth has added more than 20 new positions across the undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools and in centralized departments like the Student Health Service, the Student Wellness Center, and the International Student Experience Office. Several temporary or term-limited positions have been converted to long-term roles, reflecting the institution’s sustained commitment to this work. 

Dartmouth has revised and introduced several policies to better support students. A new Time Away Policy, developed with significant input from students, staff, and faculty, went into effect in January 2024. An Assistance Animal Policy, Personal Care Attendant Policy, and Hazing Policy were  implemented in 2025. A new Alcohol Management Policy has been piloted and will go into effect in Fall 2026. 

A range of training programs have expanded across campus to help employees and students support one another. These include the Dartmouth Counseling Center’s Creating a Culture of Care, Campus Connect, Campus Connect Booster, and Mental Health First Aid training. A custom-developed Community of Care module for employees will be available summer 2026. Additional learning opportunities through Dartmouth Dialogues, the Rockefeller Center, and other campus partners emphasized skill-building for positive mental health.

Dartmouth Center for Advacenment of Learning (DCAL), offered workshops for faculty and staff on supporting students through difficult moments – including conversations about grief and sexual violence disclosure – and trainings on best pedagogical practices for students with mental health diagnoses and disabilities.

Targeted efforts by Dartmouth’s graduate and professional schools include training for Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies faculty and training for Geisel School of Medicine faculty on facilitating conversions with students about their clerkship experiences.

Dartmouth has expanded several programs that put resources directly in students’ hands, including the Arts and Nature Rx program, Wellness Education offerings for undergraduates, and mindfulness and outdoor programming open to all  students. The Student Health Service has renewed its teletherapy contract through Uwill, established a relationship with Therapists of Color New England, expanded access to naloxone and gender-inclusive supplies, and eliminated fees for overnight nursing department stays.

Peer leadership roles have also grown across schools, often in partnership with specific departments, including:

• Peer coaching programs offered under the Student Wellness Center
• Grief support groups hosted by the Tucker Center
• Student-driven health and wellness programming through the First Generation Office
• Peer mentoring initiatives through the Guarini Student government-led initiatives designated by mental health representatives from Dartmouth Student Government, Geisel, and Thayer School of Engineering mental health representatives. 

Dartmouth participated in the Healthy Minds Study in 2024, and the resulting data—which showed improvement in many areas—are being analyzed and shared with the community. Campus leaders are using the findings to inform decisions and guide the plan’s next steps.