For more than three decades, the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) founder and CEO Dr. Brad Phillips has dedicated his career to advancing student success in higher education, developing various organizations, frameworks, and systems each designed to remove barriers and enhance the student experience. In recognition of his transformative work, Phillips has been awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges (RP Group). Each year, the RP Group honors a distinguished leader nearing the culmination of their career for outstanding contributions to institutional research, planning, and effectiveness within California’s community colleges. Phillips has long been a leader in these areas, championing data-driven approaches to improve student outcomes.
At the start of Caring Campus sessions with college and university faculty, Caring Campus coaches ask the participants to reflect on someone who inspired them to become educators. Time and again, faculty recall that it was a professor who impacted their lives. This spring, faculty members across Texas are taking part in Caring Campus, a framework designed to equip them with behavioral commitments that foster a strong sense of community and connection, both inside and outside the classroom. By creating an environment where students feel they belong, faculty can help inspire students to succeed and increase retention and persistence rates.
Texas A&M University – Central Texas (TAMUCT) and Temple College are forging a groundbreaking partnership that will allow students to earn an associate’s and bachelor’s degree from Temple College and TAMUCT while remaining on Temple College’s campus. This initiative strengthens the bond between the two institutions and supports Caring Campus Regions, a new effort designed to connect community colleges and universities in Texas to enhance student success. Funded by the Greater Texas Foundation (GTF), this regional approach aims to link and unify institutions across the state. Texas A&M universities and feeder community colleges in the three designated regions – Central, Kingsville, and San Antonio – will support the work, ensuring students experience a seamless transition between community colleges and universities.
Yuba College’s dedication to institutionalizing Caring Campus into its culture is evident in its decision to renew its Caring Campus Network (CCN) membership for the next five years – a long-term investment that ensures continued access to resources and tools that support a caring environment and enhance student success. The CCN is designed to increase connections between Caring Campus colleges and universities nationwide, promoting collaboration and shared commitment to student success. Members gain access to a range of benefits, including free webinars on key student success topics, Caring Campus certification eligibility, an extensive artifacts database for cross-institutional collaboration, exclusive discounts on Caring Campus events, and a network of dedicated professionals working to enhance student experiences.
Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL is deepening its commitment to student success by sending 10 employees to the Caring Campus Academy (CCA), ensuring they have the tools and strategies to create a supportive environment where students thrive. Designed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change, the CCA bolsters Caring Campus through a series of sessions that guide faculty and staff in developing and institutionalizing behaviors that foster student connectedness and success. By participating in the next CCA cohort at the end of February, Wallace State ensures that all employees are aligned in their dedication to students, strengthening the college’s culture of care and support.
Salem Community College (SCC), a close-knit New Jersey institution with fewer than 2,000 students, has long been celebrated by staff and faculty for its caring, family-like atmosphere for both students and employees. Becoming a Caring Campus, however, has added a level of intentionality to the school’s mission, offering students a high-quality, empowering, and personalized experience. Caring Campus administered by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change, intentionally equips college and university staff and faculty with strategies to actively demonstrate care and guide students on their journey to success. Data shows that when students feel personally cared about, they persist and succeed in their studies at higher rates. The culture of compassion supported by Caring Campus resonates deeply with students at SCC, who can express their gratitude by nominating employees who have impacted their lives as “Champions of Caring.”
Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) President Dr. Jason Morrison often refers to the college as “a home of champions,” highlighting its achievements in academics, athletics, and student life. Now, TVCC is taking this championship spirit to the next level by introducing Caring Campus, a nationally recognized framework focused on fostering connection, belonging, and student success. Morrison first brought Caring Campus to Southern Arkansas University Tech, where he served as chancellor for six years. After moving on to TVCC, he immediately reached out to the Institute for Evidenced-Based Chance (IEBC) to see if Caring Campus could be implemented at his new institution. Through an ECMC Foundation grant designed to support implementation at rural institutions, TVCC was able to begin their Caring Campus journey.
Lawson State Community College in Birmingham, AL, a Historically Black Community College (HBCC) with a legacy of academic excellence and community impact, has embraced Caring Campus to empower its faculty and staff with actionable strategies and behavioral practices designed to foster stronger connections with both students and one another. Through this commitment, Lawson State has reaffirmed its dedication to providing quality and accessible educational services to students, ensuring students feel valued, supported, and welcomed at every step of their academic journey, and elevating the effectiveness of other student success initiatives across campus.
San Juan College faculty and staff in Farmington, N.M., are inspiring students like Esmeralda Garcia to celebrate their unique identities and heritage, fostering success through the transformative principles of Caring Campus. Caring Campus is a framework that coaches staff and faculty in commitments and strategies that boost student success across all demographics. Garcia, a criminal justice major, said the culture of care brought about by Caring Campus is evident across San Juan College, from staff and faculty to fellow students.
Amid the turmoil of recent hurricanes, students at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) in Florida discovered that their college was more than just a campus – it was a lifeline. For students like Dara Gibbs, Epifanio Colon, and Rachelle Wills, the college’s unwavering commitment to care and connection as a Caring Campus transformed a time of crisis into a moment of hope, providing not only emergency relief but the stability and support needed to move forward. When Hurricane Helene struck, Gibbs faced severe flooding that damaged her home’s floors, walls, and furniture. Through PHSC’s relief efforts, she received financial assistance, food, and cleaning supplies.
