Table of Contents
Overview
Success coaching empowers students to overcome academic, social, and emotional barriers. This proactive, student-centered approach benefits first-gen students, veterans, marginalized communities, and non-traditional learners while helping campuses improve retention and engagement.
Student success is at the core of every college or university’s mission. However, achieving this goal requires more than traditional methods of support, particularly in today’s higher education landscape. Academic administrators and professionals constantly face the challenge of improving retention, fostering engagement, and creating a dynamic campus environment. The growing complexity of student needs calls for innovative strategies, and success coaching has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge this gap. By providing personalized, holistic support, success coaching empowers students to overcome barriers and achieve their academic and personal goals.
Continue reading to learn more about which groups of students can benefit most from success coaching and explore how this proactive approach can help colleges enhance retention rates while fostering a thriving student community.
What is success coaching?
TimelyCare’s success coaching is a highly adaptive, student-centered service designed to address many challenges that hinder academic achievement. Unlike traditional advising or counseling, success coaching takes a holistic perspective. It factors in influences such as financial wellness, emotional well-being, academic preparedness, and career aspirations. Grounded in data and real-world applications, success coaching aims to help students break through obstacles, foster self-confidence, and gain clarity in navigating higher education.
Whether it’s guiding students through organizational skills, helping them manage time effectively, or exploring post-graduation opportunities, success coaching meets learners where they are in their academic journeys.
Who stands to gain the most from success coaching?
Although success coaching benefits all students, certain groups stand to gain the most due to the unique challenges they face. These include first-generation students, non-traditional learners, student veterans, and students from historically marginalized communities.
First-generation students
First-generation students often encounter a variety of obstacles to achieving their goals, from navigating unfamiliar academic systems to managing the financial pressures of higher education. Many find themselves with limited access to the guidance that students with family members who pursued college education often take for granted. First-generation students may lack the knowledge and experience to navigate the complex processes of college applications, financial aid, academic advising, and campus life. They may also face challenges adapting to the cultural norms and expectations of college, which can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnect.
First-generation students may face pressure from their families to succeed academically and financially, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Without role models within their families who have successfully navigated higher education, envisioning themselves succeeding in college can be more challenging.
The cost of higher education can also be a significant barrier for first-generation students, who may come from lower-income backgrounds and lack the financial resources to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses. They may face a more significant burden of student debt, which can impact their future financial stability and career choices.
They may lack the social networks that can provide support and guidance, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. They may also lack the professional networks and experience needed to secure fulfilling careers after graduation.
Success coaching can break down these barriers for first-generation students by helping them build vital skills related to academic advising, financial aid management, and acclimation to campus culture. Additionally, coaches provide a crucial sense of support, which can counter feelings of isolation and foster a sense of belonging.
By addressing stressors like family expectations or financial strain, success coaching helps first-generation students develop resilience and work toward long-term goals with confidence.
Non-traditional students
Non-traditional students, often balancing work, family, and education, have unique needs that require tailored strategies for success. Many of these students face time constraints, stress, and isolation from campus life.
Unlike traditional students, who may attend classes full-time and live on campus, non-traditional learners often balance multiple responsibilities. Many are working professionals, parents, or caregivers, and their schedules are already full before they add academic commitments to the mix. This balancing act can lead to higher stress levels, limited time for coursework, and, in some cases, feelings of isolation from the traditional college experience.
For non-traditional students, returning to the classroom after years away can present challenges, particularly in adapting to modern study skills and technology. Many may find that academic practices, like effective note-taking or navigating online resources, have evolved significantly. At the same time, the rapid advancement of educational technologies—such as learning management systems, virtual collaboration tools, and even basic word processing software—can feel overwhelming for those unfamiliar with these resources. These hurdles can contribute to feelings of self-doubt or frustration, potentially impacting their academic progress.
Success coaching for non-traditional students often focuses on practical strategies, such as time management or stress reduction techniques. Coaches also act as a bridge, combining personalized academic advice with emotional support to help these students re-engage with their education despite the pressures of daily life.
Student Veterans
For student Veterans, life on campus can feel uncharted after years of service in highly structured military environments. Many Veterans face obstacles in transitioning to civilian life, including managing mental health concerns, adapting to academic norms, or balancing family and financial commitments. Additionally, Veterans often bring a depth of real-world experience, which can sometimes conflict with traditional higher education’s focus on theoretical and abstract learning.
Many service members can deeply internalize military culture. Sometimes core beliefs and principles learned through military service can conflict with the beliefs and principles underlying higher education. For example, following orders and respecting rank and formality is counter to the independent thinking and informality encouraged in many classrooms.
Veteran college students often require extra support due to challenges stemming from their military service, including mental health issues, physical disabilities, and difficulty transitioning back to civilian life, as well as potential financial and family responsibilities. Only 15% of student Veterans are the age of traditional college students, 24-40. And, 62% of student Veterans are also first-generation college students.
The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study found 44% of student Veterans report never meeting with an academic advisor.
Success coaching can provide critical assistance to student veterans by helping them translate their military skills into academic and professional success. Coaches also offer guidance on navigating campus resources, developing academic strategies, and fostering a sense of community, which all contribute to their overall success.
Students from traditionally marginalized communities
Completing a college program can be a formidable challenge for many students, but for traditionally marginalized groups, the barriers are often magnified. These students may encounter systemic inequities, such as limited access to financial resources, bias in academic environments, and a lack of representation among faculty and peers. Factors like these can create additional stress and isolation, making it harder for students to persist through their programs. To succeed, many members of these communities benefit from tailored support systems, including mentorship programs, culturally responsive advising, and spaces that affirm their identities and experiences.
However, recent reductions in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) resources at some institutions further complicate the picture. DEI programs can provide critical lifelines by addressing disparities, fostering inclusive campus climates, and advocating for fair policies. Without these supports, marginalized students may feel increasingly disconnected and unable to access tools that can help them thrive academically and personally. Colleges and universities must acknowledge the impact of these institutional shifts and work to ensure students are not left behind.
Success coaching provides these students with an essential support system that includes mentorship, culturally sensitive guidance, and affirmation of their unique identities. When combined with institutional efforts to build equitable policies and inclusive environments, success coaching can help marginalized students persist and thrive in their programs.
How virtual success coaching levels the playing field
Virtual platforms have transformed how success coaching is delivered to meet the diverse needs of modern students. By leveraging digital tools, institutions can eliminate significant barriers, such as geographic constraints and scheduling conflicts. Virtual success coaching allows students to connect with experienced professionals from the comfort of their residence hall, workplace, or home. This added flexibility is especially important for non-traditional learners, working students, and others who may require a more accessible support model.
‘Meeting students where they are’ is not just a tagline; it is a guiding principle in the virtual coaching landscape. The value of virtual coaching is that whether it’s the senior preparing for their next chapter or the freshman adjusting to their first weeks of college life, our coaches are there to guide them every step of the way.
The privacy and convenience afforded by virtual success coaching also directly benefit students who may feel reluctant to seek help in person. By creating a welcoming and adaptable space, virtual coaching ensures students of all backgrounds can access the tailored support they need to succeed.
Enhancing retention and building a thriving campus
Success coaching offers a proactive solution for higher education institutions seeking to improve retention and foster student engagement. By identifying the unique needs of groups such as first-generation students, non-traditional learners, student veterans, and others, colleges and universities can deliver targeted support to help students overcome challenges and reach their full potential. And by adopting virtual coaching, campus leaders can ensure this support remains accessible, flexible, and far-reaching.
Investing in success coaching isn’t just about improving individual outcomes; it’s about creating an environment where every student has the tools to thrive. By integrating holistic support like coaching into broader student support strategies, colleges can enhance retention rates, bolster campus involvement, and empower students to achieve academic and personal growth.
Let’s talk about integrating a holistic virtual health and well-being solution to keep your students on track.
Key Takeaways
- Success coaching empowers students to navigate academic and personal challenges
- First-generation, veteran, non-traditional, and marginalized students benefit most
- Virtual coaching expands access and comfort, especially for remote or working students
- Coaching supports institutional goals like retention, equity, and engagement
FAQs
No. While coaching can support students facing challenges, it’s also designed to help motivated students grow. Coaches work with students on goal setting, time management, and skill development—tools that benefit learners at any level.
Academic advising focuses on course selection and degree planning. Success coaching helps students build personal and academic skills like time management, organization, and self-confidence.
