Retention Lives in Relationship: Strengthening Student Support at Mendocino College

SSSC26 Session Description

Over a three-year partnership, Mendocino College and the Career Ladders Project worked to strengthen the college’s capacity as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by focusing on equity-minded practices, servingness, and relationship-centered student support. Through professional learning sessions, student journey mapping, and cross-campus collaboration, faculty, staff, and administrators examined how institutional culture, mindsets, and everyday practices impact student belonging, persistence, and completion. This session will share the structure of this work, lessons learned, and examples of small but meaningful practice changes that improved the student experience. Participants will engage in interactive activities and leave with tools and strategies to support culture change and improve student success on their own campuses.

Presenters
Byron Reaves, Director, Career Ladders Project
Ulises Velasco, Vice President, Student Services, Mendocino College