The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) has earned Gold Caring Campus certification from the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), marking the college’s commitment to student success and support.
UACCB received the certification on September 14, becoming only the second institution nationwide to achieve this recognition, according to a college release. The Gold designation honors colleges that have fully integrated Caring Campus principles into their daily operations and established long-term policies to sustain them.
“UACCB has always been a ‘caring campus,’” said Provost Zach Perrine. “Our faculty and staff welcome students and support their success. That is a part of the fabric of our college.” Perrine added that collaboration with the IEBC has strengthened efforts to improve support for students.
As part of its Caring Campus efforts, UACCB provides resources to help students feel connected and supported. Faculty and staff strive to learn students’ names, check in with them during the early weeks of the semester, and guide them to appropriate campus resources. The college has also taken steps to address food insecurity by offering free snacks and meals on campus.
Other student support initiatives include Open House and Welcome Week activities designed to connect students with campus services, as well as free mental health counseling and extended technology support hours. UACCB also partners with White River Health to provide suicide prevention training for faculty and staff through the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) program, which helps them identify at-risk students and refer them for professional assistance.
Additionally, UACCB has introduced HyFlex courses, offering students the flexibility to attend classes in person, participate live online, or complete coursework independently. This approach is tailored to help students balance college with their personal and work responsibilities.
The college is experiencing its highest enrollment since 2019, underscoring the effectiveness of its student-focused efforts. Since launching its Caring Campus initiative in 2021, UACCB has made caring one of its core values, weaving it into its 2024 strategic plan. Caring Campus responsibilities are now included in employee job descriptions, emphasized during hiring, and supported through orientation and ongoing training.
The ongoing work at UACCB is coordinated by a Caring Campus Task Force, chaired by Rhonda Loper, director of institutional research. “Achieving this gold standard certification validates the diligent work of our task force and proves the amazing, caring spirit that every individual at UACCB exemplifies daily,” Loper said.
The Gold certification highlights UACCB’s commitment to improving lives by helping students access the people and resources they need to reach their educational goals, the release noted.