The Care Teams, a new student support program, launched officially on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, with an ice cream social for Dillard University students, particularly the freshman class.

President Monique Guillory, Ph.D., started this new initiative to connect students with faculty and staff in relaxed environments. Dr. Guillory said the goal is to ensure students feel a sense of belonging and care that goes beyond academics while at Dillard.

“It’s really to give students an extra layer of support,” said Dr. Guillory. “We want to create opportunities for students to interact with faculty and staff,6 that’s just about their care.”

The Care Teams divide freshmen students into cohorts of 10 to 20 students with three to four faculty members. They meet weekly for one-on-one and group sessions.

This initiative is an addition to the first-year experience with help from Dean and Chief of Student Affairs, Courtney Williams, Ph.D. and Director of University College and the first year experience, Aroel Green-Scott.

“It’s all a part of the first-year experience.  It starts off with Bleu Devil Days, our summer orientation. Then they come back in the fall with New Student Orientation in August. And when school starts, we have First-Year Seminar and New Student Convocation. [The Care Teams initiative] is an extension of all that,” said Williams, Ph.D.

Faculty members who are a part of the Care Teams include Dr. Tursha Hamilton, assistant professor of Biology and Dennis Sigur, assistant professor of Computer Science.

“I try to be open and be a point person for my students anyway, so this was a natural extension of that. To be able to do it on a larger scale outside of my classroom [is] cool,” said Dr. Hamilton.

The administration hopes to humanize faculty and staff and help first-year students acclimate to college life.