On April 22, at the final Strategic Spotlight, a panel of six speakers discussed care initiatives designed to create a culture of care and impact students via mentorship, wellness and basic needs support and faculty development. Panelists answered pre-submitted questions.
The culture of care is the fourth part of the 2030 Strategic Plan and prioritizes the well-being of campus members by trying to foster respect and inclusion on campus.
“A culture of care is not a program or a checklist… it’s a way of working, leading and relating to one another,” Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Sloan Gonzalez said.
MOSAIC
Dionisio Marcelo, a student mentor, credited MOSAIC with helping him transition to UCCS when he struggled to find community as a first‑generation student, immigrant and Army veteran.
Marcelo mentors new students through retreats at the beginning of the academic year, dialogue circles, volunteer projects, social events and study hours, akin to office hours.
Social events include Waffle Wednesdays and their Coffee & Craft sessions.
One question posed was, “A culture of care depends on people feeling that they belong and can trust one another. How does your initiative help build trust, reduce isolation or strengthen a sense of belonging for students, staff or faculty?”
Marcelo said the goal is to help students feel seen early in their college journey, noting that 90% of retreat participants return the following semester. He said MOSAIC often becomes the first place these students feel at home on campus.
The CARE Team
Alex Baker, dean of students, represented the CARE Team, which supports students experiencing academic, emotional, financial or personal challenges. He explained that the CARE Team’s goal is early intervention.
“Our goal is to look at early identification of [academic, emotional, financial or personal] challenges,” Baker said. According to Baker, referrals to the CARE Team have increased 205% since 2015, signaling that students are more willing to seek help and faculty and staff are more aware of resources.
“Concern can be as simple as noticing a shift in behavior,” Baker said. “Anyone — students, faculty, staff or family — can submit a referral.”
The CARE Team has expanded support, which includes:
- Clyde’s Cupboard offers full basic needs assistance, which includes items like deodorant in addition to non-perishables.
- The Single Stop Screening Tool has helped students access over $5 million in basic needs, like housing, food and transportation, via community resources.
- The Technology Assistance Program provides students with electronic devices and internet access.
A question about the CARE Team asked was “What have you learned about what it takes to make care consistent and doable over time?”
Baker said a culture of care depends on members of campus assuming good intent and showing kindness in daily interactions.
Student Life
Senior Executive Director of Student Life Brad Bayer highlighted the Be Well, Work Well initiative, which combines wellness and community building.
A part of the initiative open to students, staff and faculty, Walking and Wordle Wednesdays, is a weekly nature walk followed by solving a word puzzle as a group.
According to Bayer, this activity regularly schedules time to hang out with others outdoors, which helps participants explore campus, disconnect from screens and reconnect with each other and reduce stress.
The walks take place on campus trails, the UCCS Farm and nearby parks.
Rooted in Well‑Being
Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Wellness Center Benek Altayli presented the Rooted in Well‑Being model, which works to incorporate wellness into everyday campus life.
The framework has seven dimensions — emotional, physical, community, social, purpose, financial and intellectual — that guide how UCCS designs programs and support systems, encouraging departments to integrate wellness into their daily work.
Altayli emphasized that well‑being is not limited to clinical care.
“Creating the right conditions for our everyday lives… can actually prevent us from needing the clinical care we used to rely on,” she said.
The Office of Faculty Affairs
Director of Faculty Affairs Jennifer Poe introduced the new Office of Faculty Affairs, which focuses on faculty professional development and community building.
According to Poe, although the work is faculty-centered, the impact is student-centered because improved support systems for faculty lead to better learning environments for students.
A question asked was, “From your perspective, what does care look like in action in your work and how do people experience it day to day?”
Poe responded that care means redesigning support systems to ensure they align with faculty members’ needs, experiences and perspectives.
“A culture of care starts with the administration and the staff. When you have people that greet you and create this open, welcoming space, that really means a lot to the students,” Marcelo added.
The office was funded by the CU system.
Students can view all projects that include a culture of care here.
Photo courtesy of the UCCS Photography Database.