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The past year has impacted people in many ways. How they work, how they shop, how their kids go to school. It’s also changed the way people connect with one another.

Hugs and high-fives have given way to virtual get-togethers. More faculty and staff work remotely. But one thing hasn’t changed — people can all benefit from cultivating a sense of connection.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, university health and well-being experts encourage building belonging and support.

“Check in with one another. A kind action or expression of gratitude can go a long way,” said Preeti Malani, the university’s chief health officer. “When we show caring for one another, we help create positive connections and community.”

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Six faculty projects that involve innovative approaches to improving student learning will be honored next month with Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prizes.

In this extraordinary year there were two focus areas: anti-racist and inclusive teaching, and remote and hybrid teaching developed in response to the pandemic.

The honorees will discuss their projects at a panel of the Enriching Scholarship Conference at 3 p.m. May 4.

Winners of the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize receive $5,000. However, the distribution of the funding is currently delayed due to financial constraints on discretionary expenditures put in place because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Provost’s Teaching Innovative Prize is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching and the University Library.

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A $4-million gift from a University of Michigan alumnus and video game company Activision Blizzard CEO will help establish an esports program in the university’s School of Information.

Robert Kotick’s gift will lay the groundwork for an esports minor at UM by 2022 to help students prepare for careers in the industry, according to a university news release. The gift will fund a professor to lead the development of the program, combining research and instruction in computer science, sports management and user experiences, the release states

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