AU receives Board of Regents’ Momentum Award in Advising, Student Success 

Augusta University was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Regents’ Momentum Award for Excellence in Advising and Student Success, which is the highest recognition for excellence in teaching and advising within the University System of Georgia. Housed within Student Success, the award honors the Career, Academic and Professional Engagement Model’s creative and effective approach to addressing the skills students most need in order to be successful in college and beyond. 

“The CAPE Model connects students with the Academic Advisement Center, Academic Success Center, Career Services and Health Professions Outreach, to ensure they begin their journey at AU knowing who their student success team is and where to go when they need support and navigating their educational journey,” said Stanley Singleton, PhD, associate vice president of Student Success.  

By dividing the colleges and schools into three major clusters based upon meta majors, the model ensures that students are advised for majors and careers that fit their interests, abilities, knowledge and purpose. This comprehensive engagement meets students at every stage of their academic career, ensuring students’ needs, outcomes and progress. 

The Student Success unit began implementing the CAPE Model in 2023 to increase persistence, retention and graduation, directly supporting Augusta University’s strategic goal of reaching 16,000 students by 2030. In fact, Augusta University’s student retention rates have steadily increased since 2023, rising from 75.5% to 78% in 2026. 

“Receiving the Regents’ Award is affirming because it recognizes the difference and impact that we collectively make in students’ lives. It is nice to know that our work is recognized and respected by fellow institutions and the University System of Georgia,” Singleton said. “This recognition gives our work new perspective and reinforces that we are making a meaningful difference for students.” 

Kirsten Ceron, EdD, director of Academic Advisement, leads the daily operations of the Academic Advisement Center and manages strategic partnerships with campus partners to bridge the gap between classroom learning and support services. 

Ceron finds that one of the CAPE Model’s greatest strengths is its ability to directly connect students with support services instead of expecting them to navigate those resources alone. Within Academic Advisement, the advisors personally connect students to specific staff members in what can be described as a “soft handoff,” helping to remove barriers that may prevent students from seeking help. 

“We’re doing a lot for students behind the scenes that they don’t even realize, and we’re really trying to provide outreach that is specific to our students and their needs here,” Ceron said. “The purpose is to give students specific people who are trained in working within their particular major or meta-major cluster so they’re receiving specialized support and assistance from start to finish throughout their academic journey.”