text: Hinds Community College, Mississippi’s largest community college, has embraced Caring Campus to build meaningful connections between students, faculty, and staff.
  Hinds College President Dr. Stephen Vacik introduced Caring Campus to the college after witnessing its success at his previous institution, Maysville Community and Technical College.
  “I know how essential it is to build strong connections with our students,” Dr. Vacik said. “That’s what the heart of Caring Campus is all about – relationships – and we’ve seen a very positive response on campus.”
  Hinds has taken significant steps to embed the Caring Campus philosophy into daily operations, ensuring its sustainability and institutionalization. New employees are introduced to Caring Campus during orientation on their very first day, ensuring all employees are aligned in their support of students.
  The college has also launched a recognition campaign called Caught in the Act of Caring, which encourages staff and faculty to nominate individuals who they have seen demonstrating the college’s values.
  Given that many Hinds students are first-generation or come from low-income backgrounds, Dr. Vacik emphasized the importance of ensuring students feel recognized and supported, which is essential for their continued success and persistence.
  “Until students know you’re invested in their lives, they’re not going to invest themselves,” Dr. Vacik said. “We want every student to feel like they’re part of the Hinds family.”
  Hinds has also implemented student success centers to complement its work through Caring Campus, further helping to increase student retention, persistence, and success rates.
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