Decision aids (DAs) are well-established in healthcare, offering structured tools that help patients navigate complex decisions by integrating evidence-based information, clarifying personal values, and supporting shared decision-making. This methodological paper explores how DA principles can be translated into academic advising to address persistent challenges in graduate education, particularly around student-advisor communication. Using the development of the COMM FLOWS tool as a case study, we demonstrate how a diagnostic survey assessing communication dynamics can evolve into a structured advising decision aid.

Graduate students face numerous decisions across their academic journey—selecting research topics, navigating funding and publishing, and making career pathway choices. Yet, the advising process often lacks the structure and clarity needed to support these decisions effectively. COMM FLOWS was originally developed to assess communication misalignments between doctoral students and advisors. Through a structured adaptation process informed by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) and the SUNDAE Checklist, we outline a four-phase model that moves COMM FLOWS from diagnostic assessment to decision-guiding framework. The model includes exploration and needs assessment, tool development and adaptation, usability testing, and long-term implementation and evaluation.

This adapted COMM FLOWS tool integrates key DA features—decision framing, values clarification, evidence-based guidance, and shared planning—to help students and advisors co-navigate choices such as communication preferences, feedback processes, and meeting structures. Interactive prompts, customizable strategy suggestions, and guided decision pathways support reflective practice and alignment. Early iterations of this enhanced tool suggest that students benefit from increased clarity and agency in shaping advising relationships, while advisors gain structured insights into student needs.

The implications extend beyond individual advising relationships. COMM FLOWS demonstrates how applying DA principles in academic contexts can reduce communication breakdowns, address equity gaps in mentoring, and support institutional goals for inclusive, data-informed graduate education. Future research will focus on scaling the tool, validating its impact, and refining its adaptability across disciplines and institutional types.

Keywords: Decision Aid Adaptation, Graduate Advising, Communication Strategies, Inclusive Engineering Education.