Central Texas College Joins Caring Campus to Foster Student Success

Killeen, TX-  Central Texas College (CTC) is elevating its commitment to student success by joining Caring Campus, a program aimed at creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all students. CTC’s participation in this initiative is funded through a student success grant awarded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The objective of the Institute for Evidence-Based Change’s (IEBC) Caring Campus is to increase student retention and success in community colleges and universities by building and cultivating a culture of care. Supported by IEBC coaching and guidance, CTC faculty and staff will develop specific behavioral commitments to better connect and support students, empowering them to reach their educational goals.

“We are delighted to be a part of the Caring Campus initiative. The resources provided by the IEBC will allow Central Texas College employees to accelerate our work in establishing a culture of care, which is designed to increase students’ sense of belonging and connectedness,” said Chancellor Dr. Michele Carter. “The goal is to support our students on a guided pathway to post-completion success whereby they enter the workforce with a credential that provides a good return on investment or transfer to a university.”

Caring Campus is based on research that shows students who feel more connected to their college are more likely to be retained, persist from semester to semester, and complete their academic goals. Caring Campus includes a semester of intensive work with IEBC coaches who meet with faculty and staff teams, returning every three weeks to continue guiding them in their behavioral commitments and activities for successful implementation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Central Texas College to our Caring Campus family and applaud their efforts to take meaningful steps toward creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for students,” IEBC President Dr. Brad Phillips said. “Through Caring Campus, we work not only to foster a culture of care, but also to lay the groundwork for increased student success and retention. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these efforts will have on Central Texas College’s entire campus community."