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The Connection Project: An innovative, evidence-based intervention for college students designed to combat the epidemic of loneliness and social disconnection that is particularly harming adolescents and young adults.
Our goal is to transform the undergraduate residential experience into one of deep, authentic bonding and connection to succeed both personally and professionally in a 21st century world.

 

What is it?

The Connection Project is a program to enhance a sense of belonging and community among college students via a semester -long series of 75-minute weekly meetings for students in groups of 6 to 10, led by pairs of trained and supervised upper level undergraduate facilitators.

Through a graduated series of activities and guided discussions, participants gradually learn just how much they have in common beneath the surface. As trust and connection build, they ultimately learn to have remarkably deep, supportive, and open interactions with one another, building a true sense of community.

 

Impacts

Student belonging and well-being

The program is documented in peer-reviewed journals, via multiple randomized controlled trials to enhance student sense of belonging and reduce loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Inclusiveness

The program intentionally groups students heterogeneously and has been found to have the greatest impact for students from marginalized groups.

 

TCP significantly increased students’ sense of school membership from Pre- to Post-Program (p < .01). Control group students slightly decreased their sense of school membership.
Rates of teen and young adults reporting a major depressive episode have increased, while rates have stayed more consistent among younger adults. (Source: Journal of Abnormal Psychology)

Why does it matter?

College campuses are dealing with an epidemic of loneliness and depression among their students, with overtaxed student counseling centers in need of low-intensity preventative interventions.

Students will only gain the benefits of diverse camps climates if they learn to talk to people who are different than themselves and recognize how much we all share in common 'beneath the surface'

A residential college provides a unique opportunity for students to gain experience learning to build relationships that go beyond the surface level in a way that changes their views of themselves and those around them in an enduring way.

 

Learn more here

"I am a lot more confident in myself. I have made some new friends that I really like. I am able to be more open and expressive of my feelings to my friends and family."
"I feel like they were very informative and comforting to know that people who are seemingly so different can have so much in common."
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Hot off the Presses!

We're pretty much famous. 

...

Just kidding. But a few news outlets have shared about our program! 

Click here to check it out

Current Partnerships

Thinking about getting started with TCP ? Check out how it's going with our current partners - Virginia Tech and Georgetown University!

 

Click here to see our current partnerships

 

Bring TCP to Your Campus!

Want to know how to implement The Connection Project at your school? Check out what it takes to get started!

Click here for more information on implementing TCP