Launching a New School Year of Care and Connection

President's Message

Dear Caring Campus Community,

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! Soon, our campuses will once again buzz with the energy of students eager to learn, connect, and grow. As we prepare for their arrival, I invite you to lean fully into your Caring Campus commitments — so that every student, in every interaction, feels seen, supported, and truly part of our community.

This fall, we’re thrilled to launch a new cohort of the Caring Campus Academy (CCA) in September — bringing together higher education staff, faculty, and administrators from across the nation to unite around Caring Campus behavioral commitments. One college is sending more than 50 team members to participate! Imagine the culture of care that will ripple across a campus when that many people align with a shared purpose. If your team hasn’t signed up yet, now is the perfect time.

Sign up for the Caring Campus Academy fall cohort to ensure all employees are aligned and united around the Caring Campus behavioral commitments.

I’m also proud to shine a spotlight on our newest Caring Campus Certified institutions:

Gold Certification: Patrick & Henry Community College
Silver Certification: Yuba College, Northeast Lakeview College, and West Los Angeles College

These colleges are setting the standard for what it means to lead with care — building relationships, removing barriers, and creating lasting change for their students. If your institution is ready to join their ranks, certification applications are open year-round. Don’t wait — your campus can be next.

We’ll be celebrating these successes and more at our first-ever Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care, November 12–14 in San Diego. Secure your spot today to hear from dynamic keynote speakers Dr. Vince Tinto and Dr. Peter Felten, attend hands-on sessions led by your peers, and take advantage of countless opportunities to network with others who share your commitment to student success.

If you have a powerful story, innovative strategy, or practical solution to share, submit a proposal to present at the conference by Saturday, August 30. Your experience could inspire the next wave of Caring Campus champions.

Join us for the inaugural Caring Campus conference to hear from powerful keynote speakers, attend hands-on sessions led by your peers, and be part of a nationwide network of professionals committed to student success.

And for campuses looking to reignite their momentum, we continue to offer Caring Campus Refreshes — tailored opportunities to revisit the framework, deepen engagement, and recommit to our shared principles. Reach out to Natalie Brobst to learn how a Refresh can help your campus take its next leap forward.

Thank you for everything you do to make higher education not just a place of learning, but a place of belonging. Let’s make 2025–26 a year defined by care, connection, and student success. Connect with us today to learn more about how we can help your campus continue to build and nurture a culture of care.

Sincerely,

Brad Phillips, Ph.D.

IEBC President/CEO

Contact IEBC at [email protected], see our website, or call us at

562-688-5721 for more information.

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Institute For Evidence-Based Change | 562-688-5721

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