Partnership Spotlight: University of Houston

The Coogs just gained a 24/7 teammate for wellness

Wayhaven is thrilled to partner with the University of Houston (UH) to bring our AI‑powered Wellness Coaches to more than 45,000 students. Beginning this summer, every new Cougar will meet Wayhaven during New Student Orientation, and all students can now chat with “Coach Marcela” directly on the Coogs Care website.

Why this partnership matters

• Student‑first access, night or day. Wayhaven sits on the Coogs Care site as an always‑open chat window, giving students immediate support whenever stress, homesickness, or academic pressure strikes.
• Campus‑specific guidance. The Coach is trained on UH resources—from CAPS crisis lines to study‑skill workshops—so it can make warm referrals in seconds.
• Grounded in research, built for Gen Z. Students choose from four distinct AI coach personas, each drawing on evidence‑based strategies from domains like CBT, DBT, and ACT to help with:
  • managing stress & emotions
  • building healthy habits
  • navigating relationships
  • sharpening study skills
  • finding campus resources
• Bridging to higher levels of care. Wayhaven is designed for everyday support and to steer students toward professional services (like CAPS) when needed—never to replace them.

Leadership spotlight

This launch would not be possible without Chris Dawe, Ed.D., AVP for Health & Wellbeing, whose vision is to blend innovation with compassionate care across UH’s “whole student” model. Under Dr. Dawe’s guidance, the Division of Student Affairs selected Wayhaven as a scalable bridge between traditional services and the on‑demand digital support today’s students expect.

“We're grateful to be partnering with our passionate colleagues at Wayhaven to launch AI Wellness Coaches to support wellness at University of Houston!”
— Chris Dawe, Ed.D., AVP for Health & Wellbeing

What’s next

• Orientation roll‑out: Incoming students will learn more about Wayhaven during orientation sessions.
• Marketing blitz: Digital screens, residence‑hall posters, and social media prompts will point students to Coogs Care and the Wayhaven app.
• Impact check‑ins: UH and Wayhaven will review engagement data and student feedback throughout Fall 2025 to refine content and ensure cultural resonance.

To try Coach Marcela now, visit uh.edu/coogs‑care and start a conversation—support is just a click away.

Go Coogs!