Crafton’s Caring Campus Receives Recognition

Publish Date: Oct. 12, 2021

Crafton Hills College’s classified staff recently received recognition from the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) for their work in the Caring Campus initiative to “improve students’ sense of connectedness”. Caring Campus is based on decades of research documenting that student who feel connected to their college are more likely to complete and succeed in their courses, persist from semester to semester, and achieve their educational goals. Students come where they are welcome and stay where they feel cared about. The classified staff at Crafton have committed to connecting to our students and making a positive difference in their educational journey.

Directed by the Vice President of Student Services office, co-chairs Rosemarie Hansen and Rebecca Abeyta are leading the efforts. “Like many of our classified staff here at Crafton Hills College I was also a student and a student worker before there was an opening for a full-time position. My experience as a student at Crafton was amazing,” explained Hansen. “There were so many wonderful, classified staff, from lab techs, the cafeteria staff, the folks in the bookstore, and the staff in the administrative areas that helped me along my journey. We already do an awesome job helping the students. Then when Caring Campus started, I saw that it would help us help each other, to make the student experience at CHC even better. What better way to honor those that helped me along my path than helping those after me on their extraordinary journey?”

Guided by a Caring Campus coach from the IEBC and with the support of senior leadership, the classified staff are strategic about implementing changes to increase connectedness to each other and to students.

“Caring Campus has given us a platform to engage more in depth about what we do as classified members in our respective departments,” said co-chair, Rebecca Abeyta. “This has allowed us to be better informed so we can continue to be able to help our students feel supported and connected not only through the wonderful services and resources we offer at Crafton, but to find a connection through a positive experience in person or virtually.” The Caring Campus Committee will continue to work closely with the IEBC in the 2021/2022 year. While all classified employees are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings, a few of the Caring Campus members who attend regularly and/or have presented updates from their departments include Ali Raventos, Claudia Hayton, Veronica Lehman, Steve Rush, Eva Bell, Jamie Sierra, Alexa Aslanian, Alex Jaco, Laura Van Genderen, Carrie Audet, Rebecca Orta and Brandi Mello.

The Caring Campus’ mission of student- connectedness has become even more relevant with the increased number of courses and services being offered online - and that connection is important in continuing to support student success.