Business cards carrying Xia Qingliang's name and contact number are almost ubiquitous on the campus of the South-Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan, Hubei province.

As the only police officer covering a college with 26,000 students, 60 percent of whom are from ethnic minority groups, Xia makes sure he has a strong presence and that people know how to get in touch with him.

Teachers say the 58-year-old is seen as a father figure among students because of his diligence and kindness.

Since being transferred to the college in 2001, Xia has helped countless students, either by solving crimes or providing financial aid straight from his own pocket.

Last year, an ethnic Tibetan student was defrauded after taking a part-time job helping to manipulate the sales figures of an online store, to boost its reputation. She would use her own money to buy goods, and the owner would later refund her with interest.

At first, she said, things went fine. But the store owner eventually convinced her to spend a large sum of money and then refused to refund her.

Unable to pay her daily expenses or concentrate on her studies, she reported the case to her teacher, who informed Xia. The police officer launched an investigation and recovered the money, and provided the student with emotional support and information on how to prevent fraud.

Over the past 17 years, Xia has also used his salary to help 26 students from poverty-stricken families to finish university.

Wang Tao, from the Miao ethnic group, first met Xia in the winter of 2008. Despite the cold weather, the police officer had noticed the freshman was not wearing a sweater and had on only short trousers.

Xia bought Wang thermal underwear and a down jacket, and gave him 200 yuan ($30) in cash, which he continued to do every month until the student graduated.

In August 2012, Wang visited the police officer on campus, bringing with him his first month's salary and some gifts.

"The boy got good grades in the end, and he should have gone onto postgraduate study," Xia said. "But he chose to work after graduation to support his poor family."

He said he always tells students that the money is a "loan", to inspire them to study hard so they can one day pay him back.

"Every time he gives money, he reports back to me," said Xia's wife, Tang Zhuying. "We're not a rich family, but we're still much better off than those poor students my husband has brought home."

Xia said his efforts are to repay the kindness he received as a child growing up in a impoverished household. His family could not even afford to eat rice for each meal, he said, but they received a lot of help from fellow villagers.

In 2016, when Xia turned 55, the public security department decided to transfer him to an easier position due to his age. To his surprise, students began posting online to call for Xia to be allowed to stay on at the college.

Due to the weight of support, the decision to transfer Xia was eventually reversed.