Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana has made caring a cornerstone of its mission – and this fall, that commitment is growing even stronger. More than 70 faculty, staff, and administrators will participate in the Caring Campus Academy (CCA), enough to bring a Caring Campus coach directly to campus.
The CCA brings college employees together around a shared set of behavioral commitments proven to foster student belonging and success. Institutions nationwide can sign up now for the fall cohort, launching at the end of September.
“There has always been such a strong sense of care at Bossier Parish, and Caring Campus has really helped us organize our efforts more and double down on that commitment,” Bossier Parish Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman said. “I may have been the one to send the CCA sign-up sheet around, but our employees jumped on it immediately. They wanted the opportunity to spend a day fully immersed in the Caring Campus commitments.”
That caring culture is visible across campus, perhaps most notably at the Cavalier Care Center, where students can access a wide range of support services, including a food pantry, Dress for Success closet, housing assistance, and emergency resources. Students who use the center have shown retention rates 10% higher than those who have not.
“Caring Campus is absolutely integral to supporting students and preparing them to transfer, enter the workforce, or simply succeed in life,” Bateman said. “It also connects us to a national network of colleges united by a shared mission of caring for their students.”
Bateman will share Bossier Parish’s approach during his presentation, “Operationalizing a Culture of Caring,” at the inaugural Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care, happening Nov. 12-14 in San Diego.
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