Caring Campus

 

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VVC Caring Campus

Victor Valley College Caring Campus Initiative

What is Caring Campus?

The Caring Campus Initiative was developed by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) and funded through a grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), is designed to create a college environment that increases students’ sense of connectedness and belonging and, in turn, completion of each student’s education goals.

VVC’s Administrators, Faculty and Classified Professionals are committed to learning and implementing the 5 adopted behavioral commitments by infusing care into our customer service practices to promote sense belonging and connectedness.

VVC's Caring Campus Behavioral Commitments

FACE TO FACE (On Campus)

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

Ten Foot Rule: Whenever a student is within 10’ and seems to need assistance, take the initiative to approach them. Say hello, smile, and use a positive tone.

Reaching Out: Reach out to students via phone, email, and text to let them know you’re available to answer questions, respond to concerns, etc.

Nametags: Wear name badges or lanyards with the college name on them so that students will know who to approach with questions.

Give Your Information Up Front: Start each contact with your name and department. Ask for student’s name and contact info in case you get disconnected.

Cross-Department Awareness: Learn about other departments so you know where to send students. Maintain accurate and up-to-date detailed directories.

Cross-Department Awareness: Learn about other departments so you know where to refer students. Maintain accurate and up-to-date detailed directories.

Warm Referrals: Call ahead or walk student to the office they need to get to. Follow up to ensure the student got there.

Warm Referrals: Use the student’s callback info to call the receiving office, make the connection on the student’s behalf, and ask them to contact the student. Follow up.

First Week Greetings: During the first week of classes, set up information tables and meet students in the parking lot, welcoming students to the college.

Reach Out to Students: At key times such as the first week of classes and when course drop dates and filing for degree deadlines approach, reach out especially to first-time in-college students to ensure they have the information they need.

 

The Caring Campus Committee is a participatory governance committee dedicated to fostering a culture of care, connection, and student success across our campus community. The committee operates in accordance with the charge and operational procedures outlined in the 2026–2027 Participatory Governance Handbook.

Charge/Mission
The Caring Campus Committee is a participatory governance committee that promotes and supports the Caring Campus behavioral commitments adopted by faculty and classified professionals to strengthen student success initiatives at Victor Valley College. The committee fosters a campus-wide culture of connectedness, belonging, and engagement among administrators, managers, faculty, classified professionals, and students.  
The committee supports the implementation and alignment of Caring Campus and 5-Star Student Experience practices across all student interaction modalities, including in-person, phone, virtual, and email communication. This support is demonstrated by modeling behavioral commitments, celebrating successes, and staying connected across classifications. The committee also promotes professional development, communication, recognition, and assessment activities that advance a culture of care and belonging across the college.

 

Caring Campus Committee Dates
2026FA Meeting Dates:
Friday, September 4, 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026
Friday, October 2, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026
Friday, November 6, 2026
Friday, November 20, 2026
  Friday, December, 4, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: Building 55, Conference Room
Zoom option: Contact jan.espinoza@vvc.edu for the current meeting zoom link.

 

Caring Campus Committee Membership
Co-Chairs: Pablo Saldana and Jan Espinoza
1 Faculty representative by Academic Senate: Ahn Wies(Alternate: Erin Salgado)
1 Classified Staff representative by CSEA:  Rosario Rubio  (Alternate: Kelly Tomlinson)
1 Manager/Administrator representative by Management Team:  Kelley Cahow (Alternate: Malia Carpenter)
1 Student representative by ASB Council: Deann Fulton (Alternate: Yasmeen Jasso)
1 Executive Assistant or Sr. Executive Assistant: Hailey Teeters
1 Faculty Ram Coach: Heather Williams
6 Classified Caring Campus Committee Member:  
Angela Perdomo
Karla Carrillo
Jan Espinoza
Joanna Reyes
Pablo Saldana
Viviana Rizo
Non-Voting Members
Celebration Team Co-Lead: Oscar Perez
Celebration Team Co-Lead: Amber Brown
Celebration Team:  Vacant
Celebration Team: Lilia Aguirre
Celebration Team: Stephanie Schrum
Caring Campus Committee Note Taker: Alicia Weatherston

 

Support Materials
Creating-Caring-Campuses-new-process_ua.pdf
Caring Campus Engaging Professional Staff.pdf
Caring Campus Equity.pdf
CARING CAMPUS TOOLKIT
​Caring-Campus-Staff-and-Guided-Pathways_ua.pdf
CC_Institutionalization-and-Sustainability-Guidebook-v3.pdf