Caring Campus

What is Caring Campus?

Caring Campus is an initiative to support student success! Caring Campus increases student retention and persistence rates by shifting from transactional to relational in the delivery of student services.

  • It's an intentional effort to make students feel welcome and a sense of connectedness at our college.
  • It engages classified professionals in student success efforts.
  • It helps classified professionals connect with one another.
  • It helps classified professionals connect with other employee groups to create a positive college environment.
  • It creates behavior change that influences culture change across campus​.
  • It causes the college to reexamine policy barriers to student success.

Behavioral Commitments

We are ALREADY a Caring Campus! The goal is to make the following five behavioral commitments intentional and campus-wide. There are in-person and virtual applications available below.  

Commitment 1: Ten Foot Rule

Whenever a student is within 10’ and seems to need assistance, take the initiative to approach them. Say hello, smile, and use a positive tone. 

Virtual: Reach out to students via phone, email, and/or text to let them know you’re available to answer questions, etc. 

Commitment 2: Nametags

Wear name badges or lanyards with the college name on them so that students will know who to approach with questions. ​

Virtual: Give your information upfront. Start each contact with your name and department. Ask for student’s name and contact information in case you get disconnected. 

Commitment 3: Cross department awareness

Learn about other departments so you know where to send students. Maintain accurate and up-to-date detailed directories. ​

Suggestions/Best Practice: Have department contact information clear and easy to find​. Create and maintain department staff pages, link from a landing page with all department staff pages​. Take a tour of campus to see who's new and what's moved or changed.

Commitment 4: Warm Referrals

Call ahead and walk student to the office they need, or provide them with a map. Follow up to ensure the student got there.

Virtual: Use the student’s callback information to call the receiving office, make the connection on the student’s behalf and ask them to contact the student. Follow-up. 

Commitment 5: First Week Greetings

During the first week of classes, set up information tables and meet students in the parking lot, welcome students to the college. 

Virtual: During the first week of classes, as course drop dates and filing for degrees approach; especially first time in college students, to ensure they have the information they need. 

 

Caring Campus is a proven method from the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) taught to SRJC classified professionals by Coach Jordan Horowitz. 

 

Classified professionals are essential to student success! Why?

  • We’re often the first people students contact​.
  • We assist in times of crisis​.
  • We are knowledgeable about the college​.
  • We know the local community​.
  • We can create a sense of connectedness and caring.

The following classified professionals have volunteered for an ongoing workgroup to support the implementation of these initiatives at SRJC:

Group photo of classified staff