Keep Coaching

Welcome! This resource was created to help campus staff look at new opportunities to repurpose roles and support students in a different way. If campuses have to transition to online unexpectedly, this resource acts as an introductory roadmap to help existing staff (such as resident hall, student activities, athletics, etc.) take up roles to further support students. We look forward to assisting you on your new online coaching journey!

Play Video

What is Coaching?

A student coach is someone who is dedicated to helping students navigate their higher education experience by developing personal relationships with students and helping them to stay on track throughout their academic program. A coach is there to provide guidance and encouragement, share relevant resources, and give helpful advice on how to overcome obstacles that students may face during their online educational journey. Coaches also help students build skills in problem solving, study strategies, time management, personal accountability, and self-efficacy.

A student coach must be proactive and reactive, thoughtful, encouraging, and resourceful. Because no two students are alike, a coach must proactively anticipate each student’s needs and offer a specific support plan. This individualized approach can make a significant impact on student success, retention, and degree completion.

There are four main pillars to student coaching:

Academic Content Support
Student Success Strategies
Systems and Process Support
Campus Resource Referrals

Each of the four pillars will be discussed in more detail below. Download the worksheet to complete as you work through the pillars. When complete, you will have a very useful reference sheet to make the day-to-day work of supporting students easier!

Worksheet

Wisconsin state outline surrounded in a purple circle

Pillars to Student Coaching

Academic Content Support

At some point in a student’s online experience, they will need extra help in their studies. This resource serves as a guide on how to proactively prepare for this type of conversation.

Guide

Student Success Strategies

Students will need tips and tools to help themselves be successful in their studies. It is especially common for students who are transitioning to an online learning environment to need extra help in building up skills they have not used or needed before. This resource will help you prepare for such a call.

Guide

Systems and Process Support

Online students will need help navigating and learning the systems and processes within your campus institution. This resource will give you examples of many online students’ frequently asked questions on system navigation and policies.

Guide

Campus Resource Referrals

An important aspect to student coaching is knowing what campus resources are available to students virtually. Oftentimes, students don’t know what resources they need until they are struggling, and it can be difficult for online students to find what they need. This resource will help you prepare for this type of conversation.

Guide

What Students Are Saying

My coach is extremely helpful. She gives me insights on course load before I register and advice on what projects I should take and when. She is truly like a concierge. The coach is very important. I recommend newcomers build a great relationship with their coach.

- Qinhua Lao | UW-Parkside Flexible Option, Business Administration Student

My coach was always available when I sent her emails and was incredibly helpful in dealing with any issues that came my way. Your (Academic Success Coach) is there to help motivate you, help you plan your course schedule, offer study tips, navigate the learning system, and more. They’ll also periodically check in just to see how you’re doing.

- Tyler Coady | UW-Milwaukee Flexible Option, Information Science and Technology Graduate

(My coach) is amazing! At the start of every semester, she sends me a welcome email that breaks down what I need to do and prepare for. This summer is the first semester I’ve taken off. And even now I’m just trying to feel like ‘OK, do I know all my logins, when is tuition due, and how about financial aid?’ And my coach is always so organized and on top of all of those questions and details. I cannot thank her enough!

- Katie Limberg | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Health and Wellness Graduate

My coach was fantastic, and she became my advocate throughout the entire program. Any time I had a question, she was right there and got back to me within a day or two. I was never on my own, and that meant so much to me.

- Victoria | UW-Milwaukee Flexible Option, Associate of Arts and Science (AAS) Graduate

I can definitely say that I wouldn’t have made it through the (UW Flexible Option) program without (Academic Success Coach) her help. She was a great advocate and was always there to answer questions. I had some tough moments in that program, and I wouldn’t have pulled through without her support.” “When I’ve contacted (Student Success Coach) for the UW MSDS program it’s the same kind of situation. He’s always answering questions and getting back to students right away. It’s pretty amazing—the work that they do, especially to support people from a distance.

- Tim Drexler | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Master of Science in Data Science Graduate

The coaches were always available. Every time I emailed or called, someone was there to answer my questions.

- Theresa Balinghasay | University of Wisconsin, Health Information Management Technology Graduate

My coach was involved with me and my education from the start. She would check in to see how I was doing with my courses or if I needed any support at all. Sometimes a professor would email me and my coach about a grade I received, and my coach would reach out to say ‘Oh my gosh, you are doing amazing!’ She took the extra time to say that she noticed my hard work, which meant so much.

- Jordan Schumacher | UW-Milwaukee Flexible Option, Health Sciences Graduate

My coach was extremely helpful in getting all of my enrollment paperwork filled out, and some of the applied computing faculty have even checked in with me to say I was doing a good job in courses. That has been really encouraging.

- Samantha Thompson | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Applied Computing Student