Reynolds Community College is advancing student success through its Advising Refuel initiative. The initiative aims to revamp advising practices with clear, structured and supportive academic guidance. By integrating internal feedback and national best practices, the Virginia college seeks to create an advising framework that meets students’ evolving needs.

Laying the groundwork

The Advising Refuel team began with a comprehensive review of existing advising practices. Revisiting key documents like the 2021 “Building a Culture of Care” report, the team identified challenges and areas for improvement. They also examined advisor roles, assignment processes, and communication strategies to streamline and improve the advising experience.

Externally, the team benchmarked against institutions such as Alamo Colleges and Achieving the Dream (ATD) partners to adapt proven practices to Reynolds’ needs. A cornerstone of the initiative includes creating an advising syllabus and visual process graphics to clarify advisor and student roles, set clear expectations and improve transparency.

Key focus areas and progress

• Reviewing practices: The team is analyzing advising policies, syllabi, and communication strategies to create a cohesive framework. This includes ensuring clarity in advisor roles and seamless communication.
• Training and professional development: Recognizing the importance of skilled advisors, the initiative prioritizes enhanced training. Collaborations are addressing gaps, defining the “Master Advisor” role, and standardizing training curricula. Participation in the ATD Advising Seminar Series is improving holistic advising skills.
• Data-driven decisions:The team, in partnership with Institutional Research, is analyzing student outcomes such as retention rates and caseload data. Feedback from students, faculty, and staff will measure progress and refine practices.
• Stakeholder engagement: By creating surveys and feedback loops, the team ensures that students, advisors and administrators influence ongoing improvements.
• Phased implementation: A phased approach allows for manageable and impactful enhancements. Early priorities include the advising syllabus, communication milestones and process visuals.

Shifting toward student success

Advising Refuel represents a cultural shift at Reynolds, focusing on student success and opportunity. By addressing the critical 0-30 credit window, the initiative ensures students receive the guidance and resources they need to thrive early in their academic journey.

With a structured, data-driven approach and insights from national leaders, Reynolds is setting a new standard for advising. Through enhanced training, transparent communication, and continuous improvement, the initiative serves as a model for other institutions.

The goal is to ensure every student feels supported, informed and empowered to achieve their academic and career goals.

This article was originally published here.