Be Kind Campus Initiative

The Be Kind and Bear Down Campus goal is to bring acts of kindness on campus to light and to increase acts of kindness across campus for all students, staff and faculty. This initiative is in collaboration with Ben's Bells and sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Human Resources, Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA), Faculty Senate, Staff Council and several other campus groups. We are actively involving students, staff and faculty in sharing about kindness and learning about the science of kindess through action-based tools and evidence-based strategies along with visual representations of kindness. Our hope is that through this initiative we will further enhance the positive attitudes, shared norms, and kindness skills that support a compassionate campus environment.  

Kindness Ambassadors are being identified for every unit on campus to help coordinate unit-level Kindness Activities and Be Kind Campus involvement. Kindness Ambassadors can be students, staff, or faculty. They will attend a training from Ben's Bells and receive a Be Kind and Bear Down Kindness kit and regular support. Kindness Ambassadors will be central to identifying kindness in everyday activities within units and to help further promote and embed kindness activities that draw attention to kind actions. 

The Be Kind and Bear Down Campus Initiative hopes to inspire a lasting commitment to kindness across campus. 

We are deeply thankful to the following sponsors of this initiative: Student Affairs, Native American Initiatives, Staff Council, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences-Faculty Affairs, Provost Investment Fund, Faculty Senate, and Faculty Affairs. 

Research indicates that kindness is associated with better well-being and more productivity. Through this initiative, the University of Arizona community will gain a deeper understanding of kindness and its impact on communities and the confidence to share this information with their unit. The units will be positively impacted in areas such as: 

• Attitude – Shaping positive perspectives on kindness
• Norms – Establishing kindness as a shared value
• Skills – Equipping individuals with actionable kindness practices
• Environment – Creating a culture that supports and reinforces kindness

Kindness Ambassadors 

Each academic and administrative unit will have the opportunity to designate one Kindness Ambassador. If your unit does not have a Kindness Ambassador yet, please contact your supervisor to volunteer and participate. If you are a supervisor of a unit and you would like to nominate a Kindness Ambassador, please click here to sign that person up.

Kindness Ambassadors will lead by example and implement a series of facilitated activities provided by Ben’s Bells to foster a culture of compassion, connection, productivity, and well-being across campus.

 Kindness Ambassador Registration

Be Kind and Bear Down Launch Event 

To launch this incredible and transformative initiative, we are excited to invite you to the Be Kind and Bear Down Launch Event. Please complete this form by Monday, October 6, 2025, if you plan to attend, and help spread the word by inviting students, colleagues, and staff to join us for this inspiring event. Lunch will be provided.

At the kickoff, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow kindness champions and participate in a dynamic one-hour presentation designed to foster Kind Communities and inspire the practice of kindness in our daily lives.

This special session will be facilitated by Ben’s Bells, with guest speakers from the Science of Kindness Community Collective and student representatives from Kind Cats.

kindness kickoff event registration form