Rate My Professor Rodney Robbins

Rodney Robbins is the Director of University College Advising at Middle Tennessee State University. He advises undergraduate students pursuing Bachelor of Science programs, specifically those whose last names begin with A-D. University College, where Robbins leads advising efforts, supports nontraditional students, adult learners, military affiliates, and those leveraging prior learning assessment for accelerated degree completion. Programs under his advising purview include the Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies with concentrations in Health Administration, Information Technology, Organizational Leadership, and International Organizational Leadership, as well as the Bachelor of Science in University Studies. Robbins engages in community outreach through 'Finish Your Degree' Q&A sessions at locations like Williamson Inc. and local chambers, assisting prospective students with flexible pathways to graduation, including online and hybrid options, dual enrollment, and partnerships such as the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative.

Previously, as Manager for Distance Learning Student Services in University College, Rodney Robbins advanced online student preparation and retention strategies. In 2013, he co-presented 'Helping Students Prepare for Online Courses' with Dianna Z. Rust at the Association for Continuing Higher Education annual conference. The presentation highlighted MTSU's tools including pre-semester welcome emails with learning management system tutorials and sample courses, an Online Readiness Quiz offering feedback on distance education suitability, mandatory orientations covering time management, study skills, academic policies, and technical requirements, online registration permits, social media contests on Facebook and Twitter, periodic support emails, outreach to non-engaged students, Academic Progress Reports triggering advisor follow-ups, registration holds for at-risk individuals, and the Probation Advising for Academic Success program. Robbins co-authored the article 'Starting Off Right: Institutional Resources for Online Student Success,' published in 2015 in The Journal of Continuing Higher Education with Dianna Z. Rust and Thomas M. Brinthaupt. He instructs courses in the Professional Studies department, including PRST 3995: Interdisciplinary Research and Creative Activity in Fall 2017 and Fall 2018 semesters. Robbins represents University College as a permanent member on multiple University Standing Committees from 2013 through 2025.