IEBC Congratulates Educators on Awards

Caring Campus Leaders and Colleges

Receive High Honors

Two recently announced awards honor educators at Caring Campus colleges. We want to share their inspiring success stories as examples of accomplishments we see across the U.S.. We are thrilled that the Caring Campus approach to increasing student success and equity supports their efforts.

Aspen Prize For Community College Excellence Awarded to San Antonio College

San Antonio College was named the winner of the 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.

With a singular focus on student success, the Aspen Prize honors institutions with outstanding achievement in six areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds, and leadership and culture.

“This is the highest national honor that a community college can receive. Today’s news makes me proud, happy, and just about every good feeling you can imagine,” said SAC President Dr. Robert Vela (left). “It’s a breathtaking achievement for our faculty, staff, and students, and it embodies the very best of everyone who worked so hard to make it happen.”

"President Vela typifies the Caring Campus philosophy with what he calls the Educator Heart, an approach that set the stage for successful Caring Campus implementation at SAC," said Jordan Horowitz, IEBC Chief Operating Officer and Caring Campus coach. "It has been my pleasure to serve as their coach as they continue to proactively support students, benefiting everyone involved, students, staff, faculty, administrators and community."

Amy Hunter Honored As CCCCO

Classified Employee of the Year

The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) Board of Governors named Irvine Valley College (IVC) employee Amy Hunter one of five 2021 Classified Employees of the Year at its May Board of Governors meeting.

Amy Hunter's leadership role in Caring Campus demonstrates her commitment to education excellence at Irvine Valley College. She recruited other classified professionals to champion Caring Campus, and was highlighted in statewide and national forums for the college's exemplary work helping students stay on their educational paths. This demonstrates Caring Campus's crucial alignment and support of California's Guided Pathways.

"Amy's excellent shepherding of Caring Campus was crucial to its success at IVC," said their Caring Campus coach and IEBC President/CEO Brad Phillips. "Her work and interactions with others around the college personify IVC's mission as she seeks to lead by example in all that she does."

The Classified Employee of the Year Awards have been presented annually since 2009 to honor community college classified employees who demonstrate the highest level of commitment. Award recipients are selected by representatives from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, Consultation Council, and the Chancellor’s Office.

Amy Hunter discusses Caring Campus on IEBC's YouTube channel.

Research documents that students leave college because they do not feel connected to the institution (e.g., Leaving College by Vincent Tinto, 1993, and Relationship-Rich Education by Felten and Lambert, 2020). Newly released research findings from the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University report positive outcomes from the Caring Campus approach, including cultivating a sense of unity, enhancing staff knowledge, and increasing the potential to improve equity.

For more information, contact IEBC or see our website.

IEBC Program Coordinator Janet Nowell:

jnowell@iebcnow.org or 619-933-7489