Caring Campus Identifies Ways to Engage Students Daily
October 2, 2020
During the summer of 2020, the Vice President of Administration Carrie Bray and more than 50 classified professionals from SCC’s main campus, as well as its outreach centers in Davis and West Sacramento, worked together on the Caring Campus initiative to develop action-based behavioral commitments to improve student experience and engagement. This program guides student services, instruction, and operational department staff in developing strategies that can easily be implemented campus-wide by all staff members. This work will reinforce and support the college’s City Ways efforts.
The Caring Campus Leadership Team selected Classified Professionals in their area who are champions when it comes to serving our students, and who already exhibit behaviors that mirror the Caring Campus behavioral commitments, which are:
- Caring Communication/Introduce Yourself
- Warm Referrals
- Know Other Departments
- Reach Out to Students
The level of engagement and enthusiasm from the Classified Professionals who were selected was inspirational. Part of the process included discussing the behavioral commitments with their colleagues and presenting their findings to their college areas and supervisors. Hopefully, many of you have already received information on their wonderful work.
Implementation, Monitoring, and Communication plans were developed to ensure the work continues, to hold ourselves accountable, and to share the behavioral commitments and efforts with our college community. Because this effort is in concert with our City Ways efforts, it was a great fit for SCC. This is the end product of the hard work that occurred over the summer by Classified Professionals and illustrates how both Caring Campus and City Ways work so well together.
Behavioral Commitments: Caring Campus Crosswalk to City Ways
We want you to think of Caring Campus as a crosswalk to City Ways. What does that mean exactly?
It’s simple: City Ways is what we aspire to do, and Caring Campus is how we actualize those goals.
| Caring Campus Traditional | Caring Campus Virtual | City Ways |
|---|---|---|
Caring Communication/NametagsGreet students and help them feel comfortable. Make eye contact, be welcoming through a smile. Display empathy focus on the student. Wear name badges so the students will know who you are and where you work. Follow up with a business card. |
Give your information upfrontStart each contact with your name & department. Ask for the student’s name and contact info in case you get disconnected. In email communication, use a personalized greeting, add your picture to your signature line. |
Greet students and help them feel comfortableMake eye contact, smile, acknowledge them, say hello, ask and use their name. |
Warm ReferralsCall ahead or walk the student to the office they need to get to. Follow up to ensure the student arrived. |
Warm ReferralsContact area to inform them that the student is being referred. Provide student information and concern. Follow up to ensure the student made contact. |
Help clarify practices and processes for studentsEliminate barriers for them when you can. |
Know Other DepartmentsEliminate barriers by knowing where to send students Cross-train in other areas to better understand what they do. Create a ‘cheat sheet’. |
Know Other DepartmentsLearn about other departments so you know where to send students. Understand how these departments communicate with students. |
Give students clear directions for the next steps in their processesHelp them find the answers they are looking for. |
10-foot RuleWhenever a student is within 10 feet and seems to need assistance, approach them. Say hello, smile, identify yourself, and use a positive tone. Soft handoff. |
Reaching OutUtilize phone, email, and text to let students know you’re available to answer questions, respond to concerns, and provide clear directions for their next steps. |
Follow upClose with your business card and/or email to follow up. |
| Name | Title | Department/Division |
|---|---|---|
| Silvia Aguirre-Barr | Clerk III | Business & Computer Information Science |
| Derek Allenby | SPA-Career & Job Opportunity | Engagement & Completion |
|
Carly Brotherton |
Lead Librarian Media Tech Asst. |
Library Services |
| Brenda Buckner | Campus Operations Supervisor | Operations |
| Madeline Chu | Account Clerk II | Business Service Office |
| Diana Daniels | Administrative Assistant I | Davis Center |
| Margaret D’Cruz | Administrative Assistant I | Business & Computer Information Science |
| Michelle Gitonga | Instructional Assistant - Math | Math, Statistics & Engineering |
| Lisa Hayden | Student Support Specialist ASHE | Engagement & Completion |
| Candy He | Clerk III | Language & Literature |
| Wendy Hein | Counseling Clerk I | Retention & Persistence |
| Lolita Herrera Watanabe | Clerk III | Kinesiology, Health, Athletics |
| Malissa Kekahu | Confidential Administrative Assistant III | President Office |
| Charito Lagat | Assistant Financial Aid Officer | Financial Aid |
| Hunter Laugenour | Maintenance Technician | Operations |
| Natalya Lodzhanskiy | SPA | West Sacramento Center |
| Laura Love | Administrative Assistant I | Kinesiology, Health, Athletics |
| Courtnee Mack | Outreach Specialist | Admissions & Records |
| Angeles Macias | SPA | Counseling Services |
| Margarita Mendoza-Marin | Administrative Assistant I | Behavioral & Social Sciences |
| Michie Montgomery | Media Systems/Resource Technician I | IT/Media Services |
| Hannia Parker | Administrative Assistant III | Vice President Instruction Office |
| Katie Pinkston | Instructional Assistant – Writing | Learning Resource Center |
| Evelyn Retter | Administrative Assistant III | Vice President Student Services Office |
| Yolanda Robinson | Children’s Center Clerk | Child Development Center |
| Taunya Wattier | Administration Services Analyst | Vice President of Administrative Services |
| Kevin Williams | IT Sys/DB Administrative Analyst | IT/Media Services |
| Name | Title | Department/Division |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Castelle | Custodial/Receiving Supervisor | Campus Operations |
| Kim Goff | Supervisor | Admissions & Records |
| Donnetta Webb | Dean | Advanced Technology |
| Alex Adan | Media Resources Supervisor | Media Services |
| Rukiya Bates | Interim Dean | Retention & Persistence |
| Carrie Bray | Vice President | Administrative Services |
| Davin Brown | Vice President | Student Services |
| Mitch Campbell | Dean | Kinesiology, Health & Athletics |
| Andre Coleman | Dean | Student Intervention |
| Kaitlyn Collignon | Public Information Officer | Office of the President |
| Jim Collins | Dean | Science & Allied Health |
| Lakia DeCosta | Interim Counseling Supervisor | Counseling |
| Andy Divanyan | College IT Systems Supervisors | IT/Computer Services |
| Kevin Flash | Dean | Learning Resources Division |
| Albert Garcia | Vice President | Instruction |
| Andrea Gaytan | Dean | Davis Center |
| Tracey Gomez | Professor – Reading | Instrumental Implementing City Ways |
| Michael Gutierrez | President | Office of the President |
| Robin Ikegami | Dean | Language & Literature |
| Angie Lambert | Dean | Math, Statistics & Engineering |
| Margaret Lednicky | Director | Operations |
| Dennis Lee | Dean | Behavioral & Social Sciences |
| Patti Leonard | Dean | Humanities & Fine Arts |
| Ginny McReynolds | Associate Vice President | Instruction (Guided Pathways) |
| Gabriel Meehan | Associate Vice President | Instruction |
| Miguel Molina | Dean | Connection & Onboarding |
| Gayle Pitman | Dean | Planning Research & Institutional Effectiveness |
| Deborah Saks | Dean | Business & Computer Information Science |
| BJ Snowden | Dean | West Sacramento Center |
| Molly Springer | Dean | Engagement & Completion |
| Pamela Tuzza | Interim Financial Aid Supervisor | Financial Aid |