What started as a deep institutional self-study is now driving meaningful change across the Mary Baldwin student experience.
Two years after launching its partnership with the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, Mary Baldwin University is moving from assessment to action — implementing a series of initiatives designed to strengthen the student experience from the first day on campus through graduation and beyond.
The partnership, first announced in 2024, positioned MBU among a select cohort of institutions committed to transforming the foundational college experience, with a particular focus on equity, belonging, and student success.
Today, that work is taking shape through two major, interconnected efforts: a comprehensive redesign of the first-year Experience and a university-wide transformation of academic advising.
Building a Stronger First-Year Foundation
Over the past year, more than 40 MBU faculty, staff, and administrators participated in a deep self-study of the university’s first-year experience using the Gardner Institute’s “Foundations of Excellence” framework — a nationally recognized model for evaluating how institutions support new students.
The process examined every dimension of the first year, from academic learning and student transitions to campus culture and equity. It surfaced both strengths and opportunities.
Among the university’s strengths: a highly engaged and diverse student body, strong faculty commitment, and the early promise of MBU’s Signature Neighborhoods model.
At the same time, the self-study identified key areas for growth — including the need for more centralized coordination of first-year programming and a clearly defined, university-wide philosophy of the first-year experience.
That work is now underway.
MBU has begun implementing an 18-month action plan focused on seven priority areas, including:
- Establishing central leadership for the first-year experience
- Defining shared learning goals for all first-year students
- Expanding faculty development and support
- Strengthening data-informed decision-making
- Enhancing student transitions and early engagement
- Advancing equity and inclusion across the student experience
- Articulating a unified vision for the first year
Early steps include the identification of leadership for the first-year experience and the piloting of new advising and mentoring structures within the academic Neighborhoods.
Reimagining Advising as a Teaching and Learning Experience
Building directly on the findings of the first-year work, MBU launched its advising redesign initiative in March 2026.
The effort reflects a shift in philosophy: from viewing advising as a transactional process to treating it as a central component of student learning and development.
“The advising redesign represents a meaningful step forward in aligning our support systems to foster belonging, strengthen relationships, and empower students to persist, complete, and succeed,” said Brooke Buffington, associate vice president, career and professional development.
The initiative is guided by a clear goal — ensuring that every MBU graduate not only completes a degree, but is prepared for meaningful work and a fulfilling life after graduation.
A cross-divisional task force is leading the redesign, with working groups focused on two core questions:
- What should advising accomplish? Including how advisors support belonging, goal-setting, and connections between academic and co-curricular experiences
- How should advising be structured? Including policies, tools, accountability, and systems for continuous improvement
Together, these groups will define an advising mission, establish key performance indicators, and evaluate current practices against national benchmarks.
A Coordinated Approach to Student Success
While distinct, the first-year experience redesign and advising redesign are intentionally connected.
The first-year study identified advising as one of the most powerful levers for student success, particularly in building early momentum and a sense of belonging. The advising work, in turn, extends that impact across the full student journey.
“We are incredibly excited about the advising redesign initiative and the opportunity to create a more connected, relationship-rich experience that helps every student feel supported, confident, and empowered to succeed at Mary Baldwin and beyond,” Buffington said.
Both initiatives align closely with the university’s strategic plan, Elevate MBU, particularly its focus on advancing student success, well-being, and career readiness.
Together, they represent a coordinated, long-term investment in the student experience — one that reflects Mary Baldwin’s commitment to meeting students where they are and supporting them in achieving their goals.