The University of Houston (UH) is home to nearly 49,000 students with over 400 Registered Student Organizations. Needless to say, students at the University of Houston are actively contributing to building community on campus. With that in mind, it can still be difficult to find your circle on campus. Project Zen UH envisions a safer campus where students feel protected and connected to one another, with a culturally diverse understanding of mental health. We have the overall objective of improving student connectedness while equipping students with effective mental health strategies to face common real-world struggles (i.e., depression, anxiety) through the creation of calming spaces designated for students, staff, and faculty.

With recent events happening on and around our college campus, we as students believe everyone at the University of Houston deserves to feel safe and secure on campus. With many students living at home, the majority view campus as a place to go to class and go home as there are no relaxing, safe spaces on campus outside of the classroom. With the intent to increase student-centered and relaxation spaces on campus, implementing zen rooms will play a pivotal role when it comes to mental health at UH. As the university experiences growth in enrollment, the need for spaces that accommodate study groups, individual work, and relaxation is necessary more now than ever. 

Taking advantage of resources already offered, we are looking to renovate older spaces—classrooms, lounges— on campus that are traditionally used for studying to create cozier spaces on campus. We are looking to have board games and small wellness activities—such as coloring books, fidget toys, affirmation journals/cards—in these rooms to encourage students to look away from school for a while, and more prioritize their mental wellbeing. With the help of campus organizations, like Active Minds at the University of Houston, Project Zen looks to take the first steps towards a safer, more mentally sound campus.

To accomplish this, we propose several actionable steps: 

1. Install permanent structures, such as Ornate Domes, in quieter spaces on campus 
2. Renovate older rooms on campus to zen spaces that include wellness and social activities 
3. Develop multi-functional outdoor spaces with adequate seating, power outlets, and Wi-Fi connectivity to support study and work activities.

This project is not easy in the slightest, but necessary to ensure students at UH feel valued throughout their time here. If this is something you're interested in, please sign this petition to support installing zen rooms and outdoor learning options to our campus in an effort to foster a stronger sense of belonging at UH. Your support is vital to making this happen!

*This petition is solely to gauge support for the implementation of zen rooms and the addition of outside work spaces at the University of Houston!