San Antonio College Joins Nationwide Caring Campus Initiative

San Antonio College has been selected as one of seven community colleges in the country to participate in Caring Campus, an initiative developed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC). The coalition’s mission is to increase student retention, success, and graduation rates by fostering a caring environment that will improve students’ connection to college.

SAC previously worked with IEBC as part of the first grant from Ascendium working with staff on Caring Campus initiative programs.

Research has shown students leave college if they do not feel an attachment to the institution. To counteract this, Caring Campus leverages the value of connectedness to increase the likelihood that students will continue towards, and succeed in, attaining their educational goals.

“Working as part of Caring Culture is a natural fit for San Antonio College,” said SAC President Dr. Robert Vela. “We have long been an educational home for first-generation college students as well as students from San Antonio’s underserved community. Our faculty and staff value our students and have a tradition of supporting them on their journey in higher education.” 

“IEBC’s team is delighted to have San Antonio College return for additional implementation of the Caring Campus initiative on behalf of its faculty after its success with staff,” said IEBC President and CEO Dr. Brad Phillips. “We believe with a new focus driven by the original Caring Campus mission, colleges can continue to engage with students and succeed in helping them stay connected in extraordinary times as well.”

Faculty and staff interaction with students can set the stage for successful enrollment, persistence, and completion. It is particularly important for students from historically underserved populations, students less familiar with college, non-majority students, students from low-income households, and first-generation students to feel welcome and that they belong in college.

Other community colleges involved in the initiative are:

• Central Arizona College, Coolidge, Ariz.
• Stark State, North Canton, Ohio
• West Valley College, Saratoga, Calif.
• Kennedy-King College, Chicago, Ill.
• Olive-Harvey College, Chicago, Ill.

• Wilbur Wright College, Chicago, Ill.

Generous support from Ascendium Education Group has made possible the inclusion of these colleges that will focus on improving the ways faculty increase student success by creating a Caring Campus in their classrooms and beyond.

About the Institute for Evidence-Based Change
IEBC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping education stakeholders — community colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, employers and others — use coaching, collaboration and data to make informed decisions and craft solutions that improve practice and dramatically increase student success. We partner with our clients to successfully implement customized evidence-based solutions to today’s most pressing issues. Learn more about IEBC at www.iebcnow.org.

About Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color and veterans. For more information, visit http://www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

–SAC–