Our Coaching Program

The mission of the SRU Success Coaching Program is to empower students to discover, reflect, and grow, becoming lifelong, courageous learners. 

The vision of the Success Coaching program is to become the prominent central resource for transformational academic success among all SRU constituents. 

Success coaching is about deep learning, a desire for growth, and using resources and sounding board spaces to become our best selves. Our team of coaches asks reflective and intentional questions that help students discover goals, explore options, and problem solve ways forward. Coaching happens in one-on-one sessions and through group workshops. Our coaching sessions provide a proactive and interactive space for students to navigate their SRU experience, explore possibilities, and become connected to campus resources. Our goal is to provide accountability and create environments that enhance intrinsic motivation, cultivate self-efficacy, and invite self-reflection.

OUR COACHING MODEL

Success Coaching at SRU was founded in 2017 upon initial training with InsideTrack. The Success Coaching program leaders are certified through InsideTrack in Advanced Student Coaching. Additionally, the Peer Academic Coaching program has received International Peer Educator Training Program Certification through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). Within our coaching practice, we use a variety of college student development theories, learning theories, and change thoery to inform our work. 

All students at SRU are welcome to connect with the Success Coaching program. Our team is comprised of professional and student staff who are dedicated to helping SRU students thrive in their academic journey. 

Peer Academic Coaching

Our Peer Academic Coaches provide individual and small group academic coaching to students on topics of academic motivation, goal setting, time management, procrastination, and learning and studying skills and habits. Coaching is most effective when students choose to meet frequenty, at least every 3 weeks as as often as weekly. 

Meeting with a Peer Academic Coach helps students to thrive academically during their college journey in the following ways:

• Transition from high school study strategies to college study strategies
• Learn the most effective ways to learn in college courses
• Explore time management and prioritization tools that fit individual personality and organizational preferences
• Never had to study? Explore study strategies that fit learning preferences and are backed by science

Coaching with Full-Time, Professional Staff

Our Success Coaching team leaders are highly trained in coaching pedagogy and learning science. In addition to coordinating the various elements of the Success Coaching program, they also provide one-on-one and group coaching to students. Students advance their coaching journey with a professional staff member by digging more deeply into areas of motivation, internal and external barriers to academic success, long-term goal planning, and making sustainable change to academic habits. 

Students who are seeking support with Satisfactory Academic Progress academic plans through the Financial Aid Office or are questioning their success and options at SRU are also encouraged to meet with a professional staff member as soon as possible.

STRATEGIC GOALS

Goal Area: Best-Practice Coaching

• Objective 1: Encourage pre-college students to adopt a coachable mindset through intentional partnerships with parents, schools, and Enrollment Management.
• Objective 2: Transform coaching to cultivate a dedicated partnership with learners that spans pre-college through graduation.
• Objective 3: Enrich coaching experiences and opportunities for just-in-time learning of cognitive, metacognitive, and noncognitive skills that enhance self-regulated learning.

Goal Area: Intentional and Data-Informed Visibility & Collaboration 

• Objective 4: Establish a consistent and intentional messaging strategy to clarify the program’s identity and improve its presence on campus.
• Objective 5: Strengthen relationships and collaboration with campus constituents across academic and student affairs.
• Objective 6: Construct procedure and process for relevant and accessible academic success and persistence data sharing.

Goal Area: Effective & Efficient Program Coordination

• Objective 7: Build capacity of coaching program to meet campus needs for seamless coaching referrals and caseload management.
• Objective 8: Establish the program’s expertise on campus in relationship-rich educational experiences, coaching pedagogy, and infusing metacognitive and learning science into college environments.
• Objective 9: Maintain a focus on innovation and fluidity through design-based experimentation, continual best practice learning, and a commitment to ongoing training and development.
• Objective 10: Standardize internal assessment practices grounded in best-practice and university goals that includes improved tracking and longitudinal student data collection and assessment.