A week-long celebration of care and empathy in teaching and learning
CAREolina 2026
March 23-27, 2026
CTE has joined with offices and programs across campus to highlight practices grounded
in Pedagogies of Care. This event offers faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants
opportunities to explore how care, connection, and empathy shape classrooms, interactions
with students, and broader instructional practice. The week features workshops, webinars,
curated online videos, and practical resources designed to support educators in their
work.
Creating a welcoming environment in the university classroom can be easier than many
think. Learn why care and empathy in the classroom are important, what the research
says, and productive ways teachers can enhance their classrooms, materials, and professional
development. Topics include teaching with compassion, Universal Design for Learning
(UDL), learning student's names, the Student Experience Project (SEP), and more!
Handouts on Pedagogies of Care, accessible active learning, compassionate course design,
UDL, creating welcoming classrooms, growth mindset, building community through groupwork,
and other best practices.
Educators, including faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants, often forget
to take care of their own emotional, mental, and physical health. Benefits exist across
campus to help educators walk into class ready for a productive session. Learn more
about free and low-cost services that you can take advantage of today!
Handouts on faculty and staff benefits, self-care, graduate teaching assistant resources,
mental health
And more!
A student’s lived experiences directly influence how they enter the classroom and
engage in the materials presented to them. USC offers support, outreach, and guidance
to help them navigate their concerns outside of the classroom so they can show up
ready and engaged.
Additional materials will include resources from our partners:
Student Success Center
University Libraries
First-Generation Center
TRIO Programs
The Humanities Collaborative
Student Disability Resource Center
Graduation and Retention Network (GARNET)
Office of Access and Opportunity
and others!
The week ends with the First-Generation Symposium, an annual celebration of the experiences, successes, and unique needs of first-generation
college students. This collaborative event is supported by the Center for Teaching
Excellence, First-Generation Center, TRIO Programs, Graduation and Retention Network
(GARNET), the Office of Access and Opportunity, the Division of Student Affairs and
Academic Support, and Aramark. Join us for an inspiring day filled with engaging discussions,
insightful data, and impactful stories.
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 17 Register(Note: This event currently has a waitlist.) Time: 9:00am - 1:15pm Location: University Conference Center (8th floor, Close-Hipp Building)
Yet in practice, I've found that kindness as pedagogical practice distills down to
two simple things: believing people, and believing in people.
Starting March 23rd, view, download, and share a variety of teaching materials curated especially for CAREolina. These include videos, interviews, tip sheets, handouts,
and valuable references about care and empathy on the USC campus.
An Interview about Care on Campus with Xavery Hopkins
In this interview, CTE talks to Xavery Hopkins, Senior Director of the Office of Access,
Opportunity and Community Engagement at the Darla Moore School of Business. She recently
won the 2026 Martin Luther King Social Justice Award and took time to talk to us about
why empathy is important on campus and how educators can foster care in the classroom.
Give 4 Garnet is all about collective impact. Every gift, visit, conversation, and moment of involvement
helps strengthen the student experience and supports the programs, scholarships, and
organizations that make USC so special.
