You have /5 articles left.
Sign up for a free account or log in.
A new advising and support model for students at Columbus State University will provide more tailored guidance throughout their four years at the institution.
Columbus State University
Columbus State University in Georgia will allocate $4 million to hire 40 staff to serve as academic and career coaches for students.
The coaching model is designed to create more personalized and consistent support for students, as well as to alleviate some faculty advising responsibilities and better equip staff advisers to engage with learners on a variety of topics.
New staff will be hired over the next calendar year; administrators plan to hire seven new career coaches and 20 academic coaches this spring, with another 20 coaches to be added in 2025–26.
What’s the need: Coaching models have long been recognized as a high-impact practice within higher ed as a way to help students navigate the institution and address personal concerns that may arise.
At Columbus State, staff advisers have assisted learners with navigating major choices and registering for courses during their first two years. Once the student reached upper-level coursework, faculty advisers would provide more discipline-specific guidance.
“This new academic success coaching model will take this responsibility off the faculty, allowing faculty to concentrate on their teaching and research responsibilities,” according to a university press release.
Now, staff advisers will receive additional training and financial support to guide students from enrollment to graduation.
The initiative is part of Columbus State’s work with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) at Georgia State University, which supports evidence-based interventions for improving student retention and graduation rates. The model is based off the University of Kentucky’s efforts.
How it works: Advisers, now called Academic Success Coaches, will be certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Their reimagined role will include guiding students through academic decisions, encouraging them to utilize academic support resources and ensuring students stay on track to graduate in a timely manner.
“By upgrading these roles with additional training and certifications, we can better help students in their academic journey—and in their personal and professional dreams,” Columbus State University President Stuart Rayfield said in a press release.
Staff who convert into academic coaches will receive a nearly 20 percent salary increase, Melissa Young, assistant vice president for student success, told Inside Higher Ed.
Coaches must possess or earn ICF credentials as a condition of employment, and those who earn the credential while employed will commit to four years of employment or repay the cost of the certificate. “This period will also help ensure that students have a consistent advising experience,” Young said.
Academic coaches may also facilitate workshops on personal and professional development, addressing facets such as leadership, emotional intelligence and personal effectiveness, according to an online job posting. Students will be required to meet with their academic coach at least once a semester, and this could increase depending on the student’s academic status, Young said.
Additionally, students will receive support from career coaches, who will provide one-on-one meetings, career planning, professional development resources, employer connections and internship assistance.
Columbus State’s career coaches will be specialized to academic focus areas, including fine and performing arts, social sciences, business, education, health professions, humanities and STEM. Some career coaches will also be dedicated to students who have yet to establish a major.
Funding success: Financing for the coaching model comes from a few different sources including unbudgeted tuition and fee revenue, current and unfilled staffing lines and philanthropic support from the Columbus State University Foundation.
“Columbus State’s $4 million investment goes beyond salaries and training,” Young said. “It includes future-state advising technologies, student assessments, summer bridge programs like our continuing Cougar Success Academy, peer and alumni mentoring, and academic and career competency badging.”
What’s next: Of current advising staff, 11 employees are eligible to convert to academic coaches. Prior to the end of the academic year, Columbus State will add nine new academic coaches and five career coaches, with plans to add 20 more staff by the end of academic year 2025–26.
So far, faculty have been enthusiastic about the change and the ability to focus more on mentorship and research alongside students, rather than the administrative demands of advising, Young said.
Do you have an academic intervention that might help others improve student success? Tell us about it.
