Advising
Not sure what the next step on your path is? Let our staff help you along the way.
Here are some useful resources
Advising FAQs
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Learner Mentors are full-time academic advisors and Faculty advisors who support Richard Bland students on their academic journey to transfer and beyond. Every student is assigned a primary Learner Mentor with whom they can discuss:
- RBC degree requirements
- Registration
- Transfer options and requirements
- Campus resources
- Academic barriers and strategies for success
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Every student is assigned a primary Learner Mentor. Students are assigned a Learner Mentor based on their Degree Program. To find out who your Leaner Mentor is, students can follow the instructions below:
- Go to MyRBC and log in with your credentials. Click “Students.
- Click “Student Profile.”
- The name of your primary Learner Mentor is located in the Advisors section.
For more information about how to find out who your Learner Mentor is, please see the attached guide here.
If you change degree programs, your assigned Learner Mentor may also change. Students are expected to book meetings with their primary Learner Mentor. If their primary Learner Mentor is not available, they can:
- Come to Advising Drop-In Hours (Tues/Thurs 2pm-4pm, Fridays 9am-4pm, Library 1st Floor) and speak with any available Learner Mentor or email studentsuccess@rbc.edu for assistance
- Summer term exception: students assigned to Dr. Golden or Dr. Davis may book appointments with one of the full-time Learner Mentors during this term, as faculty will not be available.
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Typically, you will meet with your Learner Mentor at the beginning of every semester. You will also want to check in with them throughout the semester, or whenever you have questions, concerns, or need help with your academics. Your Learner Mentor is your resource for success. You can meet with a Learner Mentor for a variety of reasons. Below are the most common reasons students may meet with a Learner Mentor:
- Encountering problems that affect your academic performance
- Registering for Courses
- Discuss Academic Progress
- Discuss Transfer Schools and/or Graduation
- To explore major/s careers
- To learn about campus resources
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The Process for Declaring Your Degree
- Use the college catalog to better understand the different degree options and their requirements.
- Choose which degree you want.
- Use the college catalog or your degree evaluation in Banner to plan out which courses you’ll take to fulfill your degree and remaining curriculum requirements.
- Complete the form by clicking here to formally declare your degree.
- You will receive an email confirmation once your degree has been successfully changed. This process is only done once a week.
- Meet with your Learner Mentor to go over the requirements of your degree together.
- You are responsible for understanding and meeting the requirements of your degree.
Complete information about the different degrees offered at RBC is found here.
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- Prepare a list of questions/concerns that you have for your Learner Mentor
- Think about your goals and how Richard Bland College can help you achieve them
- If you are meeting about course registration/scheduling, prepare a list of possible courses
- Arrive on time
- Be prepared to discuss details of your academic performance
- Bring your planner or calendar to jot notes for future appointments
- Bring an open mind and readiness to accept new information or new ways of seeing things
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We offer in-person and virtual advising meetings. Availability will vary by Learner Mentor. To make an appointment with your Learner Mentor, please use the link below
Schedule Meeting with Learner Mentor
Degree Planning
We have several resources available to help students plan their degree. Students can view their Degree Evaluation in their MyRBC portal. Additionally, you view our Degree Planners on our various tracks here. Our Learner Mentor team can provide you with guidance on what the best degree is aligned with your career and academic goals.
Course Registration
Course registration opens at different times depending on the semester. Please check your RBC email for updates when registration opens. Fall/Winter registration opens in October and Spring/Summer registration opens up in March.
To register for courses through the Banner 9 system, follow the steps below. Or more information can be found in the Registration Guide.
1. Log onto MyRBC2. Scroll to Student-Registration section & click Register for classes3. Select the term for which you’d’ like to register and select continue.4. Enter search criteria. You may search by subject, open classes only or other search options.5. Click add for the class you would like to add to your schedule. The class will be displayed on your schedule. **You are not yet registered for this class.**6. Go to summary section on the bottom right. The classes you added will be pending.7. Click submit to attempt to register for all courses.If courses are full or have pre-requisites, you will not be able to register for those selected courses.
All students are expected to book appointments with their Learner Mentor
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Below are several resources to help you begin the major exploration process:
Learn How to Become Learn How to Become is an online career site to assist you in educational and career exploration. It will help you to think about what motivates you, your work-related values, interests, personality and skills to find possible educational and career paths. http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/
My Majors This assessment will recommend the top majors, colleges and careers based on your academic achievements, interests and personality. Time to take: 15 minutes http://richardblandcollege.mymajors.com
Holland Code Career Test Discover the best jobs for you with this free test that identifies your strongest career interest among six occupational themes: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. You’ll discover your top interest area and what that means for you, along with a list of suggested careers based on your interests. Time to take: 20 minutes http://www.truity.com/test/holland-code-career-test
16 Personalities Take this personality test to find out more about who you are and why you do the things you do. The more you know about yourself the easier it is to apply to future careers. Time to take: Less than 12 minutes https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
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Follow the link below to explore how you can connect a major to a career:
Registration FAQs
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Students that have not completed 1 semester at RBC, will not be able to register for classes until they receive an alternate pin from their Learner Mentor.
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All new students are required to meet with their Learner Mentor. Continuing students are not required but highly recommended.
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This means that a class you’re trying to sign up for requires you to have completed another course or met a certain grade before you are allowed to take it. Ex. You cannot take General Chemistry II unless you pass General Chemistry I.
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When browsing for courses, the schedule type for the course will be listed as Distance Online. Traditional or in-seat courses will have days and times listed while online will not.
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Students should review their Degree Evaluation in their MyRBC portal to inquire what classes they need for their degree program.
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Students can change their degree by completing the Degree Preference Form.
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You can contact your Learner Mentor or book a meeting if you need additional support to register for classes.
Advising
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Student Success, at (804) 862-6100 or via email.
Learner Mentor Hours
Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm with an appointment
Email Advising