Higher education has been grappling with this challenge for some time, even before the COVID-19 pandemic brought increased attention. Research from the telehealth platform Uwill shows that isolation and loneliness rank among the most common mental health issues students say they struggle with. One recent survey found that more than half of college students now report feeling lonely. In response, colleges and universities have worked to create a stronger sense of belonging among their learners. But while building community on a physical campus is difficult enough, it has proven especially tricky for online programs, in which students are often spread across large distances and interact with one another solely through a computer screen.
