Cougar Care Empowering Students to Overcome Psychosocial Barriers
is taking a proactive approach to support student success in achieving their educational goals. Comprehensive Support for Student Well-being: Recognizing the diverse range of challenges students face, Cougar Care offers a comprehensive range of services. Through quality external partnerships, CBC aims to provide accessible resources to students in areas such as mental health, basic needs, emergency aid, caregiving, and transportation. By creating a network of support services at all CBC Cougar Centers, students will have easy access to the resources they need to overcome these "life barriers" that may impede their academic progress. Empowering Faculty and Staff: A key component of Cougar Care is the development and deployment of a professional development program for CBC employees. This program aims to enhance their knowledge and skills in identifying student needs, understanding their roles and responsibilities, and implementing high-impact practices to provide effective support. By equipping faculty and staff with the tools to recognize and address psychosocial barriers, CBC is fostering an environment of empathy and support, ensuring students receive the assistance they require. Defining Student Success: The overarching goal of Cougar Care is to increase student success, as defined by CBC, which encompasses persistence, retention, and completion and/or transfer. By actively working to remove non-academic barriers to success, CBC is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters the personal growth and
I n today's fast-paced and demanding academic environment, students face numerous challenges that extend beyond the classroom. Recognizing the importance of holistic support for student success, Coastal Bend College (CBC) has launched an innovative initiative called Cougar Care. This Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) aims to address the psychosocial needs of students by establishing external partnerships and providing essential resources, while also equipping faculty and staff with the necessary tools to effectively support student well-being. Building a Foundation for Success: The core of Cougar Care is rooted in evidence- based research that highlights the significant impact of institutional commitment to student welfare on persistence and academic achievement. By acknowledging and addressing the psychosocial barriers that students encounter, CBC
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