INSTITUTE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED CHANGE CARING CAMPUS
FALL 2024 NEWSLETTER
TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE THE EXTRAORDINARY
Orange Coast College participated in Caring Campus to foster a community where students feel recognized and valued, leading to increased success for students across all demographics.
A Message from the CEO
Dear Caring Campus Community,
Caring Campus continues to grow and thrive as more colleges and universities take vital steps toward transforming their campus culture and prioritizing success for all students. In our commitment to continually adapt and expand our resources and support, we have developed new tools to help our Caring Campus institutions flourish.
In July, we rolled out our new Caring Campus Network (CCN) website, which offers CCN members a wealth of resources to aid in their own Caring Campus journeys, including an artifacts database with real-world examples of successful Caring Campus implementation from colleges and universities. We also recently unveiled our new Certification program, which will give our Caring Campus institutions the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to student success through different levels of certification. CCN members can begin applying for certification in September, with results announced in January 2025.
Our second cohort of the Caring Campus Academy (CCA) is fast approaching, with session dates set for September. We look forward to introducing our Caring Campus commitments and behaviors to new hires to ensure that they can seamlessly integrate into their college’s existing Caring Campus culture.
I want to thank our many generous funders, including the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, ECMC Foundation, and Ascendium Education Group for supporting us in our mission. Together, we can bring about positive cultural transformations and strengthen our students’ sense of belonging on campuses across the nation.
Sincerely,
Brad C. Phillips, Ph.D. IEBC President/CEO
Orange Coast College Focuses on Student Success Through Caring Campus
Orange Coast College (OCC) is fortifying its commitment to student wellbeing and success by embracing the principles of Caring Campus and empowering staff to foster a studentcentric environment grounded in intentionality and care.
Our collective charge is the intentional scaling of our caring culture in all aspects of our work,” OCC President Dr. Angelica Suarez said. “Integrating Caring Campus into our existing frameworks and structures signifies a dedication to living our values and embedding compassion into the very fabric of our institution.”
OCC staff have developed numerous implementation strategies to capitalize on its caring culture, including personalized “Coast Cares Cards” and an internal directory of all employees to help with identification and warm referrals, which are when staff members personally escort or call ahead for a student to ensure they reach the right location, rather than just giving directions.
John Fawcett, Computing Center Coordinator and President of the OCC Classified Senate, said he has a chance to practice Caring Campus principles almost every day. The computing building where he works is adjacent to the largest parking lot on campus and he often interacts with students who come into the building looking for directions to another location on campus.
“I could just give these students verbal instructions directing them to the correct building, but what I’ve really enjoyed is walking with them to where they need to go and having a conversation with them,” Fawcett said. “They open up about their lives and appreciate that I’m making real human contact with them. It’s a really nice send-off, not just for them, but for me too, and is always one of the best parts of my day.”
Through actions both big and small, OCC employees demonstrate how a supportive atmosphere can foster student success and create an environment where care and connection are genuinely felt.
Orange Coast College president Dr. Angelica Suarez interacts with students on campus to continue building a supportive and caring environment where all students can succeed.
Orange Coast College brought Caring Campus to its college to empower staff to amplify their student-centric environment by establishing a culture of care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9bK6kwLHNM
Porterville College Testimony
Inspired by her own transformative experience with a compassionate staff member during college, Dr. Claudia Lourido-Habib, President of Porterville College from 2019 to 2024, brought Caring Campus to the college to create a community where students feel recognized and valued, leading to increased success for all students.
As a 22-year-old immigrant from Colombia, Dr. Lourido-Habib wanted to enroll in community college classes to pursue her thendream of becoming an architect. She tried to register for classes three separate semesters, only to be told that they were full each time. After her third attempt, Dr. Lourido-Habib went to a restroom and cried.
I was going to give up, but then a staff member in a green dress came in, picked me up, gave me a hug, and asked me why I was crying,” Dr. Lourido-Habib said. “Then she took me to a new building where I could get the help I needed, starting me on the path that got me to where I am today. Her kindness showed me how much of a difference it makes when staff go the extra mile — that’s why I wanted to bring Caring Campus to Porterville College.”
An Imperial Valley College staff member helps a student with registration questions.
Imperial Valley College Reaffirms Commitment to Student Success with Caring Campus Refresh
Imperial Valley College (IVC) is reinforcing its commitment to improving student retention, persistence, and success by participating in a Caring Campus Refresh, re-engaging its staff in the principles necessary to create a supportive and caring educational environment.
This Caring Campus Refresh effort revitalizes our dedication to our students’ well-being while providing us with concrete principles and strategies to achieve our goals,” President Dr. Lennor Johnson said.
IVC staff reached out to IEBC to request a Caring Campus Refresh, opting to self-fund the work in recognition of its importance. This decision was partly driven by the need to
address staffing changes that have occurred since the college first completed Caring Campus in Spring 2019, ensuring all IVC employees are aligned with Caring Campus’ efforts to create the best possible environment for students.
“We are committed to continuously improving and expanding our efforts to accommodate our students,” Dr. Johnson said. “Caring Campus is integral to this process, ensuring that we provide the support and resources needed to help our students thrive.”
Caring Campus emphasizes that a commitment to student success is an ongoing process, requiring continuous innovation and adaptation to meet the evolving needs of students. The Refresh sessions offer a more condensed and targeted approach compared to the traditional Caring Campus curriculum, while still following a similar format.
Are you interested in refreshing Caring Campus at your institution?
Email info@iebcnow.org for more information.
A Caring Campus Refresh helps integrate new staff into your caring culture and strengthen the supportive principles and practices you have put into place campuswide.
I love how everybody seems to care about your success more than anything. So that’s the biggest thing for me, the most influential thing.”
LABARON, STARK STATE COLLEGE, 2022
I was hospitalized for one month…[the professor] reviewed what I had to do for my final project paper, making sure to remove barriers that would stop me from completing the class. Irvine Valley College is a Caring Campus because the faculty truly care about students, especially their success.”
ANNA NAHM, IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE STUDENT, 2022
I feel like I’m at home. I feel like I’m with family. It’s a nice environment here at San Juan College.”
IGNACIO MORENO MORALES, SAN JUAN COLLEGE, 2023
Caring Campus Through Students’ Eyes
They [professors] not only supported me in the classroom, but supported me outside of the classroom….My literature teacher was always so kind, and she made learning so much fun. And I knew that I could not only come to her as a teacher, but as someone that I looked up to in my personal life.”
BAYLEIGH MORGAN, HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 2023
It means a lot that employees take the time to assist students with where they need to be for a certain class or building. It’s great to have face-to-face conversations with instructors and employees about anything. Wallace State definitely cares.”
KARINA FAULKNER, WALLACE STATE COLLEGE, 2021
Temple College Full-Time Enrollment
Caring Campus has profoundly transformed our campus, empowering staff and faculty to embrace tangible, research-backed practices for student engagement and seamlessly integrate them into our supportive environment. I have loved seeing the major shift that has come out of Caring Campus and how our employees are sprinkling personalized creativity into the strategies they develop.”
DR. CHRISTY PONCE, TEMPLE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
Victor Valley College Enrollment
Caring Campus has helped to redefine what it means to be a part of Victor Valley College. Our culture has really come alive and can be seen everywhere. Our campus is extremely vibrant, and faculty, staff, students, and community members can feel that difference.”
DR. DAN WALDEN, VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE PRESIDENT
Wallace State College Student Outcomes 2022-23
Our intentional focus on providing holistic student services, informed and inspired by our work with Caring Campus, continues to help us move the needle on student success. Today, our success rates are among the highest in the country and have resulted in our being named an Aspen Prize finalist, and an Achieving the Dream Leader College.”
DR. VICKI KAROLEWICS, WALLACE STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
A Northwest Vista College student receives help and support from a staff member. Northwest Vista College completed Caring Campus in 2024.
