Last fall, Christian Estrada was having difficulty paying for his education at California State University, Bakersfield and struggling to succeed in science classes that were required for his kinesiology degree.
Estrada was beginning to think he might not be able to graduate or even stay in school. Then a counselor referred him to the university’s new Caring Advocates and Responsive Engagement (CARE) Team, which had just been established that semester.
The team provides struggling students with campus and community resources to help them improve their well-being and reach academic success. It helped Estrada apply for financial aid and switch to a liberal studies degree pathway. Now, he is on the cusp of graduating with his degree this spring.
“They helped me navigate what I want to do and what classes I needed,” he said. “If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here right now about to graduate. I’ve had a long and interesting journey here at CSUB, but I think it’s shaped me into the person I want to be.”
The CARE team was established in fall 2022 as part of the university’s strategy to eliminate equity gaps. Most other CSUs have similar teams in place.
“The CARE team provides a holistic response to students of concern to ensure that outside factors — or even internal factors, such as academic difficulty — do not prevent them from being successful at CSUB and ultimately graduating,” said Dean of Students Emily Poole Callahan.
The university didn’t have a dedicated student assessment effort prior to the development of the CARE team. In the past, Callahan said faculty and staff had individual responsibility to connect students with on-campus resources when they face challenges to graduation.
Now, there is a team on campus dedicated to providing that kind of assistance to students.
“Our faculty and staff, as dedicated as they are to our students, may not always have the information that is necessary or the time to follow up,” Callahan said. “I’ve navigated students of concern since I’ve been here, and I don’t think what I was able to provide in any way matches the level of support that the CARE team can provide.”
Besides Callahan, the team only has two other dedicated staff members — Case Manager Jada Cantrell and Coordinator Jasmine Padilla. However, several volunteer faculty and staff members also provide guidance and assistance as needed.
“We have a network of campus faculty and staff who are dedicated to providing resources for any student of concern,” Callahan said. “Their knowledge, their interest in providing support for students, is really special.”
The CARE team, which meets weekly, gets most of its cases from faculty and staff member referrals. These referrals range from students with academic performance and financial issues to mental health concerns and housing insecurity.
“We have students going through the grief and loss of a family member, or even something as concerning as suicidal ideations,” Callahan said. “It’s really a full range of issues.”
Once a student is referred, team members initially connect with them by phone or email, with the goal of setting up an in-person meeting. A thorough assessment is then conducted to determine what the student needs, whether it be counseling, tutoring, in-class accommodations or even something as simple as helping them fill out forms.
Once the initial resources are provided, team members try to stay connected with students to keep track of their progress. The length and frequency of these check-ins depends on the level of a student’s need and what their contact preferences are.
“I think the real powerful piece of this program is the follow-through and the follow-up,” Callahan said. “We don’t just offer the resources — we really do ensure they are utilizing those resources for their success.”
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