Digitally-Well Universities

It’s no secret that mental health crises are at an all-time high on campuses, but what can leaders do to help?

When Christina Crook heard this question, she had an answer: JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out).

On May 5, Crook, founder and CEO of JOMO and JOMO(campus), will join Laure Fritsch, assistant director of Virginia Tech’s Hokie Wellness, and DWI co-founder Tyler Rice to discuss their collaboration to create the first Certified Digitally Well University™. Moderated by Nina Hersher, Chief Learning Officer of the Digital Wellness Institute, this panel brings together a pioneering group of mental health experts to share strategies for bringing digital wellness to students in real-time.

Crook had already been helping organizations and individuals develop sustainable strategies for digital wellness and align their device usage with their personal values. Through her books, keynotes, facilitated workshops and online courses, Crook had developed a full suite of tools that were helping people rethink their online lives and discover a radical new sense of peace amidst the cacophony of modern life.

But as a mother of three, she was also keenly concerned with the way these devices impact youth and young adults. We can remember a time before the smartphone; kids can’t.

“I am on my tech 24 hours a day,” says Michael Bailey, a sophomore cybersecurity major at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business. “Without even thinking about it, I’d put my earphones on and isolate myself in my room. I was having trouble focusing on school work with all of my Discord notifications on.”

Crook wanted to help. She adapted the JOMO method into JOM)O(Campus), a first-of-its-kind, multi-year initiative for higher education. When she connected with Laurie Fritsch, assistant director for Virginia Tech’s Hokie Wellness, the two worked together to implement JOMO(campus) and see VT recognized by the Digital Wellness Institute as the first Certified Digitally Well University.

Fritsch and Crook collaboratively developed a series of evidence-informed programs, an awareness campaign, assessment, and educational resources that equipped students to take back control of their device usage. The program will expand to cover a comprehensive range of student and faculty services over the next several years.

For more information about the Digital Wellness Institute, read the announcement, and to join the live webinar hosted on Digital Wellness Day, May 5, go here. To learn more about the JOMO(campus) program, visit jomocampus.com.