In higher education, where syllabi multiply like rabbits, meetings stretch into eternity, and expensive coffees are considered a food group, there exists an overlooked force that transforms workplaces: Gratitude—the simple act of acknowledging someone’s effort, saying “thank you,” or even just nodding in appreciation. 

Not a new concept, nor particularly complex. In the campus workplace, where rigor often outpaces emotionality, gratitude feels like a rare bird—beautiful, fleeting, and possibly endangered.

Faculty juggle research, teaching, and service. Staff manage logistics, student needs, and massive event planning. Administrators keep the ship afloat while dodging budget cuts and angry emails.  In this context, gratitude seems a luxury—something to squeeze between grading papers and making sure schedules are complete. 

And...research tells us gratitude is a necessity!

The Case for Gratitude (Backed by Science & Some Sass)

Organizational psychology research demonstrates that expressing gratitude leads to increased job satisfaction, better team cohesion, and improved physical and mental health. When we feel appreciated, we engage more, are more productive, and are less likely to fantasize about quitting to open a goat yoga retreat in Vermont.

Where burnout is a badge of honor, gratitude is a powerful antidote to remind us that behind every spreadsheet, syllabus, and student success story is a human doing their best, often with limited resources and constantly occurring and often indecipherable software updates.

Gratitude isn’t just good for the receiver. It’s good for the giver. Expressing thanks activates the brain’s reward centers, reduces stress, and increases feelings of connection. Expressing “thanks” is a free well-being program!

A Cautionary Tale from the Department of Mild Chaos

Consider the fictional (but emotionally accurate) Department of Mild Chaos at Somewhere in Iowa University. This department has everything: tireless faculty, overly hardworking staff, and a coffee machine that makes noises like a haunted accordion. What it doesn’t have is gratitude!

Cheryl Dunphy, the department coordinator, can organize a conference, fix a copier, and talk panicked students off metaphorical ledges—all before lunch. Most days, the only feedback she gets is, “Did you get my email?” (She had. She always had.)

Then came Aham Ubeki, a new hire with a penchant for radical optimism. In his first week, he started “Thank You Thursdays.” Every Thursday, faculty and staff were encouraged to write one note of appreciation to a colleague. It could be silly (“Thanks for not microwaving cod in the break room.”) or sincere (“Your mentoring is changing how I teach.”).

At first, people resisted. “Is this mandatory?” asked someone, suspiciously. Slowly, notes started flowing. Cheryl received a dozen thank-yous in a day. The janitor got a shout-out for always restocking paper towels. Even the Dean got a note that read, “Thanks for only scheduling one meeting this week. You are a benevolent overlord.”

Mood shifted. People smiled more. Collaboration improved. It is a little magical—or at least, it is a workplace remembering it is full of humans.

Gratitude: A Gateway to Sanity

Gratitude isn’t about grand gestures or performative kindness. It’s about noticing. It’s about pausing long enough to say, “Hey, I see you. I appreciate you.” In a workplace as complex and demanding as a campus, that pause is revolutionary!

Whether you’re faculty buried in grading, a staff member juggling a major event, or an administrator trying to herd a budget spreadsheet, remember: Gratitude is free, powerful, and surprisingly contagious.

Practical Takeaways to Stick in Your Hip Pocket for Later

• Make It a Habit, Not a Holiday: Don’t wait for Thanksgiving or retirement parties. Build gratitude into your weekly routine. Start meetings with shout-outs, end emails with appreciation, or say “thanks” in the hallway.
• Be Specific & Sincere: “Thanks for everything” is nice. “Thanks for catching that typo in the grant proposal five minutes before submission” is better.
• Use Multiple Channels: Sticky notes, emails, verbal praise, or Slack messages. Gratitude doesn’t care how it’s delivered, as long as it’s genuine.
• Include Everyone: From student workers to senior faculty, everyone contributes. Make sure your appreciation reaches across roles, ranks, and privilege.
• Celebrate the Small Stuff: Not every act is Nobel-worthy. Thank someone for making coffee, fixing the printer, or just showing up with a smile.
• Lead by Example: If you’re in leadership, model gratitude. Your team will follow suit, and.... your meetings might even get shorter!