US universities are in crisis. Anxiety disorders, isolation and financial insecurity have become pervasive on college campuses for students, faculty, and staff. To address these complex problems we first need to understand the precise way in which universities as organizations contribute to this.

Drawing on extensive research and testing involving over 150 participants over an 8-month period, we have developed Care Hive. Care Hive is an innovative organizational tool designed to make care performance within universities tangible and addressable. The tool consists of three main components:

1. Care Indicators – these are contextualized metrics that serve as a set of system change targets and progress measures

2. A unique data visualization of the institutional care scores based on the indicators, making data transparent and accessible, showing trends, challenges, and best practices over time.

3. A collective sensemaking method that enables the community to leverage the data to inform the design of new policies and practices

By centering the metrics and mapping around care, our tool drives conversations that reevaluate organizational goals, shift institutional values, reallocate budgets, and foster critical accountability. This transformative approach reshapes the core fabric of universities.

To support the successful integration of Care Hive, we have developed a comprehensive adoption strategy and roadmap. This ensures the development of internal capacity and willingness, as well as the institutionalization of processes.

We firmly believe that care is the foundation for future organizations. Universities are not alone in struggling with these kinds of challenges, we see similar patterns in numerous organizations. Thus  presenting immense growth opportunities to reimagine organizational structures across various sectors be it public or private.

Studio Instructor
Koray Caliskan

Designers
Istem Akalp
Alex Bekker
Irika Mehta
Mihika Mehta