(North Canton, OH – March 5, 2021) – Stark State College has been selected to participate in Caring Campus, a nationwide initiative to increase student retention, success and completion in community colleges by creating and cultivating environments through intentional behaviors by faculty and staff that improve students’ sense of caring and connectedness to the college.

Stark State is among just seven community colleges selected for Caring Campus for faculty and among 20 for staff.

Research has documented that students may leave college because they don’t feel connected to the institution. Caring Campus recognizes and leverages the value of connectedness to increase the likelihood students will continue toward and attain their educational goals. Faculty and staff interaction with students can set the stage for successful enrollment, persistence, and completion. It is particularly important for students from historically underserved populations, students less familiar with college, non-majority students, students from low-income households and first-generation students to feel welcome and that they belong in college.

“I’m pleased Stark State was chosen for this initiative as the College has a history of efforts to enhance the student experience by creating a welcoming campus environment for them,” said Lada Gibson-Shreve, provost and chief academic officer at Stark State. “On the faculty side for instance, the initiative provides us the ability to identify best practices that can be replicated in all courses in support of an engaging classroom experience.”

“IEBC’s team is delighted to have Stark State College participating in the Caring Campus initiative,” said IEBC President/CEO Brad Phillips. “We hear a lot about meeting students where they are at. Caring Campus supports colleges in engaging in specific behaviors to accomplish this in real and meaningful ways. Through this work, Caring Campus also is closing achievement gaps.”

The program is led by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) with generous support from the Ascendium Education Group.

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About the Institute for Evidence-Based Change
IEBC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping education stakeholders — community colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, employers and others — use coaching, collaboration and data to make informed decisions and craft solutions that improve practice and dramatically increase student success. They partner with clients to successfully implement customized evidence-based solutions to today’s most pressing issues. Learn more about IEBC at www.iebcnow.org.

About Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color and veterans. Ascendium’s work identifies, validates and expands best practices to promote large-scale change at the institutional, system and state levels, with the intention of elevating opportunity for all. For more information, visit www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org.