Culture of Care Thrives on Building Relationships between Students and Instructors

Dr. Gary Packard, upon being introduced as the new Senior Vice Provost of Online Initiatives at the University of Arizona, emphasized the critical importance of building relationships with students.  He noted that relationships are the key to the 'Student First' operation embodied in all actions taken at the University of Arizona and the University of Arizona Global Campus.    Building positive relationships between students and instructors is the key to accomplishing the five pillars of the Culture of Care--Communicate, Advocate, Respect, Empower, and Student-centered.  Research supporting the impact of fostering positive relationships with students will be presented along with the brain science that explains the physical changes that occur to sustain those positive relationships.  Actual examples of relationship building student impacts and the Culture of Care pillars they modeled will be shared by the presenters.  The takeaway will be a list of actions that are available to online instructors for nurturing positive relationships with students by using the principles of the Culture of Care.