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Description

The Rehabilitation Sciences Complex (RSC) at The University of Texas at El Paso provides limited opportunities for students to access outdoor wellness spaces despite the high academic demands experienced by Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy students. A needs assessment of 128 students identified strong interest in a Student Wellness Garden to support stress management, relaxation, studying, and meaningful engagement with nature. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop an occupation-based Student Wellness Garden while creating the resources needed to support its future implementation. Although the garden was not physically installed during the capstone experience due to university approval processes and funding timelines, the project evolved into a comprehensive implementation package. Deliverables included a Planning Manual, Sustainability Plan, Master Plant Guide, project website, implementation report, conceptual garden designs, educational materials, and implementation resources. Through collaboration with university leadership, Facilities, Planning & Construction, the Green Fund, and other campus stakeholders, the project established a strong foundation for future implementation. This capstone demonstrates how occupational therapy can promote student well-being through occupation-based environmental design while supporting systems-level practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustainable change within higher education.

Publication Date

2026

Keywords

Occupational therapy, student wellness, environmental design, higher education, therapeutic garden

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Comments

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Yagel 

Capstone Site: Rehabilitation Sciences Complex (RSC), The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) 

Planting the Seeds of Well-Being: Cultivating Student Wellness Through Occupation-Based Environmental Design

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