LONG BEACH, CA – South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) is elevating its culture by bringing Caring Campus to the district level, creating a bridge between District Services and the district’s two community colleges, Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College, and fostering a strong partnership that will lead to a fully realized Caring District.

As only the second district office to implement Caring Campus in the nation, SOCCCD will ensure care and support flow from District Services to both the colleges and students. This district-level implementation aligns with the district’s strategic plan, approved in June 2026, which calls for cultivating a positive culture and climate for students and employees.

“I spent my entire career at a community college before becoming chancellor of SOCCCD, and I am very aware of the dynamic between colleges and the district office,” SOCCCD Chancellor Dr. Julianna Barnes said. “I know the important role the entire ecosystem plays in climate and culture, which ultimately leads to successful and equitable outcomes for students. I thought the best way to address this was to bring Caring Campus to our district level.”

All employees across District Services will set goals and action steps that align with Caring Campus, helping them better understand their role in supporting student success even though they are not in traditional student-facing positions.

“District Services is the support arm for our colleges, so not only will these employees be recipients of Caring Campus work, but also the givers, as they will support colleges who will then directly serve students,” Barnes said. “It’s a reciprocal relationship and partnership that will help ensure we’re always prioritizing doing what is right for our students.”

Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College have also both individually adopted Caring Campus. Barnes said this has helped elevate and strengthen the learning culture at each institution, which in turn supports stronger student outcomes, including persistence, retention, and overall success rates.

“It really takes a village,” Barnes said. “Leadership buy-in is also incredibly important to ensure alignment and harmony in how we roll out Caring Campus together. Our district leadership has embraced their roles in championing and modeling Caring Campus, and I look forward to fostering even more transformative change at the district level, mirroring the positive momentum already underway at our colleges.”

SOCCCD was able to fund its implementation of Caring Campus through the use of Institutional Effectiveness and Partnership Initiative (IEPI) funds.

“We are thrilled to begin work with our second Caring Campus District and look forward to all the positive impacts it will have for students and employees,” Caring Campus founder and CEO Dr. Brad Phillips said. “SOCCCD’s commitment demonstrates how district offices play a pivotal role in advancing a culture of care that benefits every level of the educational ecosystem, from district to college staff, and ultimately to students.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

IEBC_SOCCCD1: South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) is elevating its culture by bringing Caring Campus to the district level, strengthening connections between District Services and its two colleges.

IEBC_SOCCCD2: All employees across SOCCCD’s District Services will set goals and action steps that align with Caring Campus, helping them recognize their role in supporting student success.