32. Kindness on Campus: A Conversation with Cate Denial

In this episode of EdUp Provost, Dr. Cate Denial discusses her book A Pedagogy of Kindness and the importance of fostering kindness in academic settings. She shares her experiences with unkind teaching practices and emphasizes the need for a culture of kindness that supports both students and faculty. The conversation explores the distinction between kindness and niceness, the challenges of implementing kindness in higher education, and practical strategies for provosts and academic leaders to create a more supportive and inclusive environment. Takeaways • Kindness can transform the educational enterprise. • Provosts can model kindness and implement kind policies. • Kindness is distinct from niceness; it has boundaries. • Teaching with kindness supports student success and engagement. • Kindness fosters a sense of belonging in academic settings.