When hiring a new student success coach, your higher education institution will want to consider the skills, experience, and insights they might offer. Student coaches can improve the skills of struggling students, offer mentorship to those who might need advice, or provide support for those looking at their career path. Whatever you want your student success coach to focus on, learning how to find the right candidate for your institution can be essential to the future accomplishments of your students and organization.
A student success coach, also called an academic success coach, assists students with their personal development, career goals, and academic achievements. Success coaches want to motivate students to do better at coursework while helping them set and achieve realistic goals. These coaches are trained to assess a student’s unique needs while helping them reach their full potential through actionable paths steps.
Student success coaches require a thorough knowledge of documentation practices and progress-tracking skills. They must understand how to help students overcome academic roadblocks to peak performance.
When looking for a new success coach, many universities and colleges will look for a candidate with the following characteristics:
Finding a new success coach can provide many positive outcomes for students and faculty. Whether you want to foster positive relationships or build access to resources and goals, student success coaches can help. Here are seven benefits of hiring a student success coach.
Students can actively participate and build a trusting and personal relationship by connecting with a student success coach. Coaches help students trust their mentors and build a foundation of support to reach out to other advisors and counselors at their institution.
Student success coaches help students identify barriers to success and build a capacity for learning and growth. When students want to overcome their problems and increase academic success, a coach can point out problem areas and work together to establish goals and paths for problem-solving.
A success coach acts as a source of encouragement and accountability for students. When students fall behind in class, a coach can get them back on track. However, their motivation is kind and comes with actionable steps. They want to motivate students to be the best versions of themselves.
Student success coaches help students find the right resources or advisors to fit their unique goals and needs. By listening to what students want to work on, they can provide them with information and connections to improve their growth. Coaches can even personally introduce students to helpful peers, staff, or faculty.
For students who need guidance on their academic or career goals, a student success coach can help them explore and pursue new opportunities. Whether they need assistance developing new ideas or applying to jobs, a coach can help them work towards their dream and build a path to success.
Student success coaches can increase student retention in higher education institutions. The more connected and cared for a student is, the more likely they are to succeed academically rather than drop out. Because student coaches build strong relationships with students, they can better assess when a student is at risk and implement intervention strategies.
For diverse students who might need more assistance and resources, a student success coach can ensure they are given equal opportunities for success.
New student coaches should have the right skill and knowledge to impact your organization’s students positively. Here are four qualities to look for in student success coach candidates:
When interviewing a potential student success coach, ensure you cover all aspects of their experience, skills, and knowledge. You want to know that they care about student success and have the tools to measure and implement suitable strategies. Here are 20 questions to ask a college coach before committing to their services:
Watermark has developed the skill and technology to assist higher education institutions with data collection, measurement, and analysis. Our software allows higher education institutions to assess reliable data sets and make educated decisions to improve their organization. Contact us today to speak to a representative or request a demonstration online.
