On January 7, 2025, and as he concluded his second tenure as U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy released a report entitled My Parting Prescription for America. Dr. Murthy discussed the power of community as a potent source of health and well-being and how a lack of community is associated with health outcomes, such as premature mortality, heart disease, depression, and anxiety. Applying this parting prescription to the entire country is timely. A 2023 report by the Pew Research Center stated that 8% of Americans have no close friends, and a 2023 report on NPR.org outlined the loneliness epidemic in America.
Applying Dr. Murthy’s parting prescription specifically to colleges is also timely. A 2023 report by Inside Higher Ed described loneliness as a plaque on campuses. Unfortunately, many universities are struggling to foster a sense of community amid challenges such as the low public confidence in higher education and the controversy surrounding DEI bans. However, Dr. Murthy highlighted that the pillars of community are purpose, relationships, and services. Despite whatever challenges that might exist, higher education can strengthen these pillars in unique ways.
The Pillar Of Purpose In Community Building
Dr. Murthy defined purpose as having a life aim that guides priorities and actions. A 2021 report on Forbes.com described how colleges can give students purpose that is both job-driven and life-driven. However, there’s a staggering need for schools to invest in resources that help students develop a sense of purpose. According to a 2023 report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, 58% of young adults reported lacking meaning or purpose, and half of young adults reported that this negatively affects their mental health.
Schools can help students develop a sense of purpose by investing more into resources that help students decide on a major, learn about career trajectories, find employment after graduation, and develop practical skills that are applicable to their futures. The pragmatic benefits of such investments are clear as the links between a perceived purpose in academic studies and variables such as academic performance, student retention, and engagement are well established.
However, Dr. Murthy suggested that there are even more benefits. According to the outgoing Surgeon General, a high sense of individual purpose can reduce risk of early death, stroke, and even dementia. He also emphasized that a high sense of purpose results in people being more invested and committed to others, which strengthens the sense of community. Thus, one way to bolster campus culture is to focus on helping students discover why they’re in college. Highlighting the purpose of academic pursuits might also help raise the public confidence in higher education.
The Pillar Of Relationships In Community Building
Dr. Murthy explained that relationships can be a source of joy, improved performance, and even help people make sense of the world. However, he argued that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated loneliness and that social media has altered the ability to have effective interactions and open dialogue. Dr. Murthy called for an investment in building social infrastructure, which he described as programs, policies, and physical spaces that foster social connections.
Establishing new social connections is a hallmark of being in college. However, as Dr. Murthy warned, schools should not assume that all students can naturally cultivate relationships. As a 2024 report on Forbes.com explained, many students in the incoming college cohorts have shifting worldviews and a familiarity with change that might impact their ability to relate to others. Thus, investing in social infrastructure could benefit many campuses. Furthermore, Dr. Murthy highlighted that the benefits of relationships are fulfilling because they connect people to something bigger than the individual and expand one’s social circle to other community members with different backgrounds and beliefs. Thus, all schools, even campuses with a DEI ban, can achieve these benefits by emphasizing the importance of social connections with other students.
The Pillar Of Service In Community Building
Dr. Murthy defined service as performing actions that benefit others. He said that service can be formal volunteer ventures or small gestures of kindness toward others. Dr. Murthy listed the health benefits of performing service as including reduced risk of hypertension, stroke, and depression. However, he explained that only 30% of Americans participate in formal volunteer activities, and only about 50% participate in informal service, such as regularly helping a neighbor.
Most colleges provide opportunities for students to engage in service, and many degrees focus on helping others. However, Dr. Murthy suggested a heighted benefit might occur if communities had a universal expectation for members to perform service. In higher education, this suggestion is supported by research on the benefits of formal service-learning programs. A 2023 report by the National Youth Leadership Council suggested that service-learning programs foster development in personal, social, values, academic, and cognitive domains. Programs that help normalize service for all students might be boost to the campus culture.
There are important health benefits for promoting a sense of community among college students. By highlighting the pillar of purpose, relationships, and service, the outgoing Surgeon General might have given a path for many schools to follow in bolstering their campus culture while responding to the challenges that face the field of higher education.