Professor teaches lonely college students how to build friendships through ordinary moments
A political science professor at an unnamed university designed a freshman seminar to help college students overcome loneliness and social anxiety in 2026.
Students struggle with social connection
The instructor observed that many new students desire close relationships yet feel anxious about starting them. Federal data indicates the share of Americans socializing in person dropped from 38 percent in 2015 to 30 percent in 2025. A national survey of more than 40,000 college students found nearly six in ten reported feeling lonely sometimes or always.
New class combines study and practice
The professor created a freshman honors seminar titled Friendship and Society to address these issues. The course merges academic study of friendship with practical exercises for forming connections. Students previously went entire semesters without learning their classmates names or speaking to one another.
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