Columbia-Greene CC Builds Holistic Support System for Commuter Students

CARES team provides early intervention and comprehensive services to address academic, personal, and financial barriers to student success.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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At Columbia-Greene Community College, the institution has built a comprehensive support system known as the CARES team - Care, Advocacy, Resources, and Education - to assist commuter students facing a range of challenges that can impact their academic success. The CARES team takes a holistic approach, intervening early when issues arise and coordinating a wide array of services to address barriers related to transportation, finances, mental health, basic needs, and more. This represents a shift from the traditional model where commuter students were expected to navigate support services on their own.

Why it matters

As a commuter campus serving Columbia and Greene counties, Columbia-Greene educates many students who juggle jobs, families, caregiving responsibilities, and long commutes. The CARES team's proactive, integrated approach helps remove barriers that could otherwise cause these students to struggle or drop out, supporting their path to graduation and long-term success.

The details

The CARES team uses an early alert system to identify students who may be facing challenges as early as the second week of the semester, prompting outreach and assessment of their needs. The college provides bus passes, car maintenance assistance, and a centrally-located food pantry to address transportation and food insecurity. Mental health support is also layered, with an on-campus counselor as well as partnerships with local providers. Financial aid is treated as counseling, with staff working to ensure students borrow only what they need.

  • The CARES team has existed at Columbia-Greene since 2021.
  • The college's early alert system begins as early as the second week of each semester.

The players

Caitlin Twomey

Assistant dean of students at Columbia-Greene Community College, with nearly 15 years of experience in higher education student support roles.

Joel Phelps

Vice president for student success at Columbia-Greene Community College, with over a decade at the college including 10 years as director of financial aid.

Drew Ledoux

Chief of staff and special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives at Columbia-Greene Community College, previously serving as dean of students.

Eric Swift

Counselor affiliated with county mental health services, providing on-campus mental health support five days a week through SUNY grant funding.

Columbia Kitchen

A partner organization that delivers individual, locally sourced meals each week for students to take between classes and work shifts.

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What they’re saying

“We take a holistic approach. Often, what a student brings forward is only part of what's actually happening.”

— Caitlin Twomey, Assistant Dean of Students (tapinto.net)

“Borrow smart. Borrow wisely. Borrow only what you need.”

— Joel Phelps, Vice President for Student Success (tapinto.net)

What’s next

As SUNY expands initiatives such as SUNY Reconnect and workforce-focused funding, Columbia-Greene is redesigning programs to meet adult learners where they are, shifting more offerings to evening, weekend, and hybrid formats to accommodate students' schedules.

The takeaway

Columbia-Greene's holistic CARES team model represents a shift away from the traditional expectation that commuter students must navigate support services on their own. By proactively identifying and addressing a wide range of academic, personal, and financial barriers, the college is helping remove obstacles to student success and demonstrating how mission-driven institutions can adapt to meet the evolving needs of their student population.