LONG BEACH, CA – Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) is embracing Caring Campus to strengthen student success – trailblazing as the first Caring Campus university, earning bronze Caring Campus Certification, and preparing to present at the Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care, happening Nov. 12-14 in San Diego.

TAMUK’s commitment reflects the core tenet of Caring Campus: establishing a welcoming environment where students feel connected leads to greater student retention, persistence, and success.

“Our staff and faculty immediately saw the value in implementing Caring Campus behaviors and took it and ran with it,” said Dr. Kristina Ramirez Wilson, Chief of Performance Excellence and Strategy. “What I really love is seeing how different departments embrace Caring Campus and truly make it their own.”

By creating dedicated committees for both staff and faculty to guide Caring Campus implementation, partnering with local community colleges to ensure transfer students experience a consistent culture of care, and actively embracing the core Caring Campus behavioral commitments, TAMUK is making student success the focus of all its efforts. These strategies and more reflect the university’s holistic approach to fostering connection, support, and belonging across the entire campus community.

Additionally, departments that are not typically student-facing have found ways to contribute to the caring culture at TAMUK. The Office of Research and Innovation developed a First Day of School photo station during Welcome Week, giving staff an opportunity to connect with students, answer questions, and build a welcoming environment.

TAMUK’s many efforts resulted in the university earning Bronze Certification after only one year of implementation, setting the university apart as a national leader in building a culture of care.

“Receiving certification demonstrated that Caring Campus is what we live and breathe,” Wilson said. “We were so proud to receive bronze after only one year – and we’re already setting our sights on earning gold next time.”

At the upcoming conference, TAMUK faculty, staff, and leaders will share their Caring Campus experience through two presentations: “Empowering a Caring Culture: Leadership-Backed Creation of Caring Campus Champions at TAMUK” and “Faculty Buy-In as a Catalyst for Student Success: The TAMUK Caring Campus Experience.”

“We felt we had quite a bit to share from our Caring Campus journey and would bring an interesting perspective as a four-year university,” Wilson said. “I’m also looking forward to learning from others about their practical ideas, solutions, and creative programs for engaging students, faculty, and staff.”

Conference attendees will also hear from nationally renowned keynote speakers Dr. Vincent Tinto and Dr. Peter Felten, along with institutions from across the country that are transforming student success through Caring Campus. Early bird registration ends Friday, Oct. 10.

“TAMUK is a model of what’s possible when an institution fully embraces Caring Campus,” Caring Campus founder and CEO Dr. Brad Phillips said. “Their success shows that when faculty and staff come together to prioritize student connection and belonging, real transformation happens. TAMUK is setting a powerful example for both community colleges and universities nationwide.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

IEBC_TAMUK1: Texas A&M University – Kingsville is embracing Caring Campus to strengthen student success – trailblazing as the first Caring Campus university, earning bronze Caring Campus Certification, and preparing to present at the inaugural Caring Campus Conference.

IEBC_TAMUK2: Texas A&M University – Kingsville’s Office of Research and Innovation developed a First Day of School photo station during Welcome Week, giving staff a chance to connect with students, answer questions, and build a welcoming environment.