The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) has earned Gold Caring Campus certification from the Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC), recognizing the college’s commitment to helping students feel welcome, connected and supported. The credential was issued September 14, 2026.
Gold is the program’s highest certification level, recognizing colleges that have embedded Caring Campus principles into daily operations and established policies and practices to sustain them. UACCB is the second college to earn Gold Caring Campus certification since the designation was introduced.
“UACCB has always been a ‘caring campus’. Our faculty and staff welcome students and support their success, that is a part of the fabric of our college,” said Dr. Zach Perrine, provost, “Working with the Institute for Evidence-Based Change we have been able to take this work to the next level. Receiving this incredible recognition is a symbol of the dedication our people have for students.”
At UACCB, care begins with personal connections: learning students’ names, checking in early in the semester and helping them reach the right person when they need assistance. Free food and snacks available across campus help address food insecurity so students can focus on learning. Open House and Welcome Week connect students with campus resources, while free mental health counseling and expanded technology support hours provide ongoing support throughout the semester.
Recent efforts extend that support. Through a partnership with White River Health, faculty and staff receive QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training to recognize warning signs and connect students with professional help. The college’s new HyFlex courses give students options to attend in person, join live online or complete coursework on their own schedule, helping them balance college with work and family responsibilities. UACCB has a record number of students on campus this fall, the most since 2019.
UACCB began its Caring Campus work in 2021 and included Caring among its core values in the college’s 2024 strategic plan. Caring Campus responsibilities now appear in employee job descriptions and job postings, and the principles are reinforced through orientation, continued training and the hiring process. A Caring Campus Task Force helps coordinate the college’s ongoing efforts.
“Achieving this gold standard certification validates the diligent work of our task force and proves the amazing, caring spirit that every individual at UACCB exemplifies daily,” said Rhonda Loper, director of Institutional Research and chair of the Caring Campus Task Force. “Championing the ‘UACCB Cares’ story is deeply personal to me, and there is no other role on campus I consider more important.”
The Gold designation recognizes a shared commitment across UACCB to its purpose: Improve Lives. Through personal connections and practical assistance, employees help students find the people and resources they need to keep moving toward their goals.
