Enrollment Increases 128% In Six Years - Tiffin University

what’s happening > Student Success
SuCCESS COaCH pROgRaM
Tiffin University introduced an innovative success coach program beginning
in the fall of 2007 for incoming freshmen placed on academic probation. In
spring 2008, TU added continuing students placed on probation.
The primary responsibility of a success coach is to meet one-on-one with
at-risk students to help prevent them from dropping out, and ultimately,
mentoring the students and providing them with the tools they need in
order to graduate.
Success coaches, who are part-time employees, help students learn about
college, assist in locating materials, places, and people on campus, and
perhaps most important – offer support, encouragement, and positive
reinforcement.
Students meet with their assigned success coach one hour each week, and
the success coach provides
guidance, helps the student set
goals and address challenges.
Success coaches also offer
assistance and guidance to
students in preparing required
University paperwork – from
financial aid to drop/add class
forms, to change of major
forms.
“Coaching sessions are
focused on providing
personal development, and
assistance with planning
and organization,” Staunton
says. “Success coaches also
provide a variety of methods
to enhance study skills.”
Should a student do poorly
on quizzes or writing papers,
the coaches will help create
improvement plans and
then monitor the student’s
academic success, utilizing
progress reports, and midterm
reports.
Success coaches also help
students develop better
time management skills and strategies, identify strategies to make social
connections with peers, and instill a healthy lifestyle in regards to diet,
nutrition, rest, exercise, and leisure time.
“Our success coaches are here to guide students through problem resolution
and match students with appropriate support services on campus,” Staunton
remarks. “They connect the dots and find the right services on campus to
help students.”
32 CHALLENGE > Fall / Winter 09
FRE 150 COuRSE
Incoming freshmen who are admitted on academic probation enroll in
the FRE 150 course, which provides an introduction to college life, study
skills, time management, and “life lessons.” The “life lessons” component
of the course focuses on making positive choices, understanding the
consequences of one’s behavior, making ethical decisions, preparing for a
career after graduation, and the importance of overall wellness.
FINaNCIal aID
Another important role of TU’s Student Retention Office is to work with
students to help handle financial costs of attending college, including the
following:
n Serving as a liaison between the student, the Financial Aid Office and the
Bursar’s Office on matters relating to student accounts. TU has established a
“Save the Student Campaign,” which works closely with both of these offices.
“We evaluate each individual
student situation, and help
to implement a workable
solution,” Staunton says.
n Helping students and
families resolve financial aid
challenges and concerns.
n Monitoring progress of
new and current students
with submitting missing
documents to the Financial
Aid Office.
n Assisting with TU-sponsored
events that require financial
aid representation. This
includes orientations, open
houses and campus visits for
new students.
n Updating and maintaining
email communication plans
for financial aid and retention
purposes for students.
FROM ENROllMENT
TO gRaDuaTION,
ONE-ON-ONE
STuDENT
INTERaCTION
The retention process begins
the moment the student enrolls at Tiffin University, and continues through
graduation.
“We provide the help needed to transition from high school to college,”
Staunton says. “In addition, we provide information, awareness, and
exposure to University services and activities to help enable students to make
reasoned and well-informed choices. We want to create an atmosphere that
minimizes anxiety, promotes positive attitudes and stimulates learning. We
also work to improve motivation and effectiveness so students stay at Tiffin
University and meet and exceed their personal goals.”