Project Grant 2605817

The National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers awarded the University of California, Davis $200,000 on September 1, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to investigate how undergraduate engineering students engage with wellness interventions embedded in disciplinary courses.

The project employs a qualitative case-study methodology to examine student perception of instructor-led wellness modules, informed by the social-emotional learning framework. Three engineering instructors at different institutions will implement brief wellness modules into standard technical courses, with the study examining mechanisms—including academic instruction, university initiatives, and societal factors—that shape how students learn about and maintain personal well-being. The project trains an engineering educator in qualitative research methodology to expand the community of educational researchers in engineering education.

The award addresses widespread emotional stress and mental health distress among engineering undergraduates that diminishes academic performance, lowers grade point averages, and increases coursework discontinuation, threatening the national technical workforce pipeline. The research aligns with the Research Initiation in Engineering Formation Program by advancing foundational knowledge on how engineering students develop self-awareness and self-management skills vital to professional success.

Performance occurs in Davis, California, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028.