Student Success at Southern Miss has been helping students navigate college life through their student success coaching program. The program is open to all the students in Hattiesburg who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Offering students one-on-one academic support through staff, faculty and graduate students.
Students can sign up for the program through the Student Success Coaching section of the school website. They can then fill out a form with some questions about what their goals are with the program, and they will be matched to a coach who will help them set realistic goals and develop their skills.
“Students are paired intentionally with a coach, and we try to find a common ground, whether it is that they are in the same college, school, or some other commonality,” said Emilee Westfall, the Coordinator for First & Second-Year Programs in the Student Success. “The coaches are able to tailor each of the sessions based on what the student needs.”
The student and the coach meet at least four times a semester, sometimes more, depending on the student’s needs. While the primary purpose of the program is academic support, the program recognizes that students may also need social or motivational support.
“The program is a great avenue for students to reflect on their progress and dream about where they hope to be in life and academics,” Lisa Rieger, a success coach, stated. “Students benefit from the program by intentionally taking time to evaluate their current status/skills and determine opportunities for growth.”
The program helps students recognize and work toward their personal and academic goals. The program also helps students find additional resources that might help them succeed in college. The program is designed to help students with accountability and social skills.
The student success coaching program does not define what success is for students, but lets each student define what their version of success is to help them achieve it. Some of the ways coaches help students are study skills, time management, and goal-setting. The program puts first-year students in mind and help them smoothly transition into college life.
Both students and coaches can apply to become a part of the program. The student success coaching program also reaches out to certain people to recruit them as coaches if they think that the person would be able to benefit the students. The application for the students to be a part of the program this semester closes this Friday.