Every so often, a book comes along that feels perfectly timed for the challenges we’re facing. Kevin McClure’s “The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After the Great Resignation” is one of those reads for higher ed HR. Published in July 2025, the book explores a simple but transformative idea: When institutions take better care of the people who work for them, everyone thrives.
McClure is no stranger to the conversations shaping today’s campuses. A professor of higher education and department chair at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, he co-directs the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges and writes a regular column in The Chronicle of Higher Education focused on higher ed workplace reform. Many CUPA-HR members were introduced to his thinking during his keynote address at the 2024 CUPA-HR Spring Conference. His call for higher ed to prioritize employee well-being resonated with attendees and echoed conversations happening in many HR offices.
Why This Book Matters Now
McClure argues that rebuilding healthier institutions requires moving beyond short-term fixes. Instead, leaders must foster what he calls “caring universities,” where employee well-being is treated as a strategic, institutional priority, not an afterthought.
That framing stood out to Beth Lesen, vice president of student affairs and enrollment at California State University, Long Beach. In sharing her recommendation, she noted:
“I loved the emphasis on treating employee well-being as mission critical for student success. Excellent recommendations for how to proliferate well-being on campus.”
Her takeaway captures one of the book’s biggest strengths, which is making a direct, evidence-based connection between employee experience and student outcomes.
What CUPA-HR Members Are Saying
Bill Dial, associate vice president of human resources at New Mexico State University, gave “The Caring University” a big thumbs-up at the CUPA-HR Annual Conference and Expo 2025. Later, in a follow-up conversation, he shared why this book stands out for HR professionals in higher ed.
Dial agrees with McClure that “knowledge organizations depend on capable, invested and creative employees to prosper.” That idea runs throughout McClure’s work, which takes a research-based look at the post-pandemic higher education ecosystem and how staff, faculty and administrators can come together to move institutions forward, Dial noted.
Dial also appreciated that the book draws on insights from current employees and offers practical steps that can be tailored to different campus cultures. He called it “an overall excellent resource for the contemporary higher education human resources professional.”
A Meaningful Read for HR Teams and Campus Leaders
If you’re looking for research-backed insights, practical examples, or inspiration for shaping your institution’s workplace culture, “The Caring University” is worth adding to your winter reading stack.
As McClure reminded us during his CUPA-HR keynote, “We have neglected the employee experience in some of our most crucial conversations.” “The Caring University” urges higher ed to move beyond short-term fixes and make care a strategic priority.
If you have a favorite book or resource you think fellow CUPA-HR members would benefit from, we’d love to hear from you. Share your recommendation or idea with us anytime at [email protected]. While we can’t feature every suggestion, we always appreciate hearing what’s inspiring and informing your work.