Empowering Students to Navigate College: Insights from the College Fluency Initiatives at Austin Community College
The third case study in this series looks at how Austin Community College in Texas has been developing college fluency programs with both their library and non-library faculty and staff. The college libraries play a critical role in promoting college fluency across 11 campuses. Other non-library initiatives at this college that also contribute to supporting students to navigate college underscore just how much of a college-wide effort it takes to promote greater college fluency.
Key Takeaways
- Ensure faculty and staff are well-informed about available non-curricular resources to improve student support. Tools such as internal and targeted information guides, newsletters, and ongoing training sessions equip faculty and staff with the knowledge they need to assist students holistically.
- Offer continuous and accessible non-curricular information through multiple channels such as face-to-face interactions, 24/7 live chat, and information guides to engage students with diverse needs, particularly those in digital-only programs and students who do not feel comfortable seeking help in person.
- Provide students with real-time support and guidance when they reach out, rather than referring them to information available online. Use regularly updated information guides as a resource to supplement direct support and help both students and faculty navigate resources effectively.
- Consider students’ life circumstances (e.g., family responsibilities and work schedules) to create a safe, welcoming environment where students with diverse backgrounds feel comfortable seeking help.
- Recognize that while virtual platforms offer flexibility, they also reduce informal staff communication and personalized student support.
- Develop campus-specific approaches to address student information needs outside of standard operating hours to compensate for staffing capacity in areas that require additional support (e.g., registration and advising).
- Pursue knowledge sharing and tighter alignment to improve interdepartmental communication, collaboration, and information sharing to reduce redundancy and enhance student support.
- Foster a culture of collective responsibility towards student-centeredness through administrative leadership, keeping in mind the unique needs and challenges of each campus’s student body.
