I was very excited to have attended the ACHA 2025 Annual Meeting (May 27–31) in New Orleans and took full advantage of opportunities to network, learn and share. Within the meeting’s theme of “Expanding the Scope,” I took note of several subthemes, with sessions and conversations focused on data, collaborations, and the concept of well-being. It was no surprise then, when I searched the meeting program, I found 44 session listings for well-being, 25 for data, and 15 for collaboration.
These topics, or “subthemes,” are fully aligned with both my past multi-institutional improvement collaborative work while at NYU and are core to my vision for population health and Campus 360 at Wellfleet. I also reflected on the fact that data and the use of data seemed foundational to the other two subthemes.
Harnessing data for population health initiatives
In the context of college health, managing well-being for a large population effectively hinges on having access to high-quality, actionable data. Population health focuses on the health outcomes of groups, such as all enrolled students, students with specific conditions, or first-generation college attendees, and the distribution of those outcomes across the campus community.
Institutions can identify patterns and disparities that might otherwise remain hidden by leveraging comprehensive data sets from tools like the ACHA-NCHA, campus health and counseling services utilization data, and well-being assessments. These insights help universities anticipate emerging health trends, allocate resources more efficiently, and implement upstream interventions to improve student well-being and potentially prevent crises before they arise.
Data also allows schools to segment their student populations and design targeted health initiatives. For example, if data shows high levels of food insecurity among Pell-eligible students, campuses can create tailored support services or partnerships with local food banks. If mental health claims are rising among international students, institutions can develop culturally competent counseling options. In this way, population-level data becomes the basis for precision population health—ensuring that interventions are not only effective but also equitable.
Ultimately, consistent data monitoring supports the ongoing cycle of needs assessment, program design, impact evaluation, and quality improvement—core principles of both population health and evidence-based campus leadership.
Bridging silos: Fostering collaboration across campus departments
In addition to informing strategy, data plays a critical role in fostering collaboration across campus departments. One of the greatest challenges in addressing student well-being is the siloed nature of institutions—health services, counseling, academic affairs, student life, and administrative leadership often operate with different priorities and vocabularies. Data helps bridge those gaps by serving as a common language.
When multiple stakeholders can look at the same trends—such as rising anxiety levels or disparities in well-being by demographic group—it creates a shared understanding of the issues at hand. This shared evidence base helps align goals across departments, making it easier to develop integrated interventions and measure collective progress.
In essence, data becomes the connective tissue that unites diverse campus units around a common mission: improving the health, well-being, and success of their student population.
Addressing student needs through targeted initiatives
We know that student well-being is influenced by a complex interplay of factors—mental and physical health, academic pressure, financial stress, social connection, identity, sleep, nutrition, and the broader campus environment. Because of this complexity, campuses need comprehensive, multidimensional data to assess student needs and design effective well-being initiatives accurately.
Tools like the ACHA Well-Being Assessment and Healthy Campus Inventory capture more than just clinical symptoms—they provide insights into students’ sense of belonging, stress levels, access to resources, and perceptions of campus support. This kind of data allows institutions to move beyond reactive care and develop strategic, holistic plans that address the root causes of distress.
Whether the goal is to redesign campus spaces to promote social interaction, expand access to culturally competent mental health services, or strengthen peer support programs, data ensures that decisions are grounded in real student experiences and that improvements can be measured over time.
Disclosure
Wellfleet, Wellfleet Student, Wellfleet Special Risk, and Wellfleet Workplace are marketing names used to refer to the insurance and administrative operations of Wellfleet Insurance Company, Wellfleet New York Insurance Company, and Wellfleet Group, LLC (known in California only as Wellfleet Group, LLC dba Wellfleet Administrators, LLC). All insurance products are administered or managed by Wellfleet Group, LLC. Product availability is based upon business and/or regulatory approval and may differ among states. ©2025 Wellfleet Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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