May 28, 2024

Capital Breaks Barriers with Holistic Approach to Advising

For many, completing a college degree is part of the American dream. But increasingly, barriers to successfully attaining that goal range far beyond academics.

College students can face many challenges inside and outside the classroom that can significantly impact their education. Maybe it’s a lack of financial resources holding them back, pressing job and family responsibilities, physical or mental wellness issues, or struggles with food and housing insecurity.

Capital’s Office of Student Success and its team of advisers can often be a gateway to connecting the resources Capital has to offer, which is the starting point for navigating those challenges.

“Every student brings their own life experiences to their college experience,” said Joel Ashley, director of Student Success. “Each one needs an individualized, holistic care approach to meet their needs and be successful at Capital.”

Through a comprehensive approach, Capital proactively supports every student’s academic, social, physical, mental, and spiritual development as they pursue their educational and personal goals.

Ashley said they have been working on reimagining advising roles to create a unified support system of faculty and student success staff, with students at the center.

“We need to take a 360-degree view of every student’s success: Are they making progress toward their degree? What can we do to foresee upcoming obstacles? How can we help them develop comfort and confidence in being college students?”

The Student Success staff relies on faculty and staff referrals and self-referrals of students who might be facing a barrier that could hinder their success toward earning a Capital degree.

After meeting with a student, they work together to develop a plan for next steps and then refer them to other campus offices as needed, whether for peer tutoring, accessibility services, collaborative planning to achieve personal goals, or a referral to the Cap Cupboard for food.

The goal of the Student Success team, Ashley said, is to have a student say, “I’m seen and heard, and my needs are being met so I can continue my pursuit of success at Capital.

“Everybody is unified in that mission,” he said. “We want our faculty and staff to shine in ways that leverage their expertise and allow our students to be successful.”

The Importance of Advocacy

The right to be heard is a powerful right.

Having gone through difficult times during her first couple of years at Capital, Ryleigh Tumeo learned how important it is to be listened to. Looking back, she credits the patient ear and caring heart of Joel Ashley, director of Student Success, as pivotal toward the completion of her bachelor’s degree and walking across the stage at this spring’s graduation ceremony.

Finishing high school at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tumeo wasn’t sure she wanted to continue her formal education. It took the persistence of her godmother to convince her that enrolling in college – and enrolling at Capital, in particular – would be best for her future.

Ryleigh Tumeo - photo by Mary Bradley

Near the end of her first semester, she experienced a debilitating health issue that required hospitalization and follow-up outpatient treatment. The many obstacles she faced when returning to classes could have been insurmountable had it not been for the advocacy of Ashley and the flexibility of Steve Bruning, professor of Communication.

“Dr. Bruning’s non-judgmental understanding allowed me to get myself back in the routine of going to college,” said Tumeo, a public relations major.

“Joel was a major advocate for me. He’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and he was the professional voice I needed to duke it out with at a time when I was trying to take care of myself.”

During her junior year, she realized the effect her hospitalization had on her ability to complete her degree. Because the Student Success staff had worked alongside Tumeo her entire time at Capital, Ashley was able to help map out a plan that would allow her to graduate on time.

“I’m such a big supporter of the Student Success office,” said Tumeo. “Joel was very validating about my situation, and because of that, there is not a single doubt that Capital was the perfect place for me.”