The role of an Academic Coach at College Excel holds many responsibilities. On the objective side, they serve as an academic advisor, academic tracker, life skills teacher, independent living skills instructor and well-being advisor. On the less objective side, the Academic Coach holds a never-ending list of responsibilities. This is why the College Excel coaches meet the highest standards for education, experience, and training before fulfilling the role.
The best coaches are the ones who ask important questions and provide the space for students to explore their own answers. What do you want to be known for? What are you hoping to accomplish? Why is that important to you?
Once a student establishes who they want to be, what they want to achieve, and why, their coach can help them break down how to do so. What can you do today to get one step closer toward reaching your goal? When will you work on that? How will you know you’ve been successful? This is where the rubber meets the road. Many students struggle with executive functioning and the ability to both conceptualize and actualize the small steps required to reach a destination. By participating in plan-making and observing follow-through (or lack thereof), coaches are able to offer accountability — an essential element in the process of change.
Of course, change does not come easy, and coaching offers an opportunity for problem-solving and encouragement when students struggle to reach their goals. What is getting in your way? What do you want to do differently next time? What strengths can you utilize to overcome the obstacles? Coaches give students permission to say, “I’m stuck,” but not to remain stuck. They prompt the student to identify the problem and generate possible solutions, and in strengths-based coaching, the student is the solution. Coaches acknowledge what the student is doing well and capitalize on their assets as an agent of continued change. An effective coach is an enthusiastic cheerleader, even once a student has achieved their original goal, because an effective coach acknowledges that growth and change are never-ending.
About College Excel
Founded in 2003, College Excel is the nation’s leading residential college support program located in beautiful Bend, Oregon. At College Excel, post-secondary adults (18+) with diverse learning needs requiring extra support are provided the structure they need to move forward, both academically and personally. Using a proprietary, blended coaching model rooted in Harvard research-based neurocoaching and behavioral coaching techniques, College Excel students receive daily support from a team of credentialed and experienced Academic and Student Life Coaches while earning transferable college credits.