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Central Texas College Joins Caring Campus Initiative to Boost Student Success

Killeen, TX – Central Texas College (CTC) is taking a significant step towards enhancing student success by joining the Caring Campus initiative. This program, funded by a student success grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, aims to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all students.

The Caring Campus initiative, developed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), focuses on increasing student retention and success in community colleges and universities by fostering a culture of care. Through IEBC coaching and guidance, CTC faculty and staff will develop specific behavioral commitments to better connect with and support students, empowering them to achieve their educational goals.

Chancellor Dr. Michele Carter expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative: “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. 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.”

Research has shown that 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 every three weeks to guide them in their behavioral commitments and activities for successful implementation.

IEBC President Dr. Brad Phillips welcomed CTC to the Caring Campus family: “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. 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.”

This initiative marks a promising development in CTC’s ongoing efforts to support student success and foster a nurturing educational environment.