You may have taken classes in a traditional setting. For students used to sitting in a classroom and having face-to-face interaction with professors and classmates, online learning is a different experience. It is the job of a Point Park University success coach to guide students throughout the entire online education experience. This trained group of representatives offers a wealth of knowledge for maneuvering through the online learning experience. As a student at Point Park, you will have access to these coaches and all the resources they provide.
We caught up with one of our most experienced success coaches, who has helped many students in their journey to earning a degree. He explained the role of a success coach and how students can best take advantage of this service.
What is a Student Success Coach?
The goal of the student success team is to help students through the online learning experience — from the first class to graduation. “We act as a mentor. If they encounter any problems in their classes or reaching out to anyone, we help them in any way we can,” he said.
The support doesn’t just involve strategies for succeeding in class. “If they are having problems outside of school as well, we offer them support in a number of ways,” he said.
Whether it’s finding time to study or asking for support from loved ones, the success team can draw from all of their past experiences with other students and suggest possible strategies that may work for a student. If more information is needed, the success coach can suggest helpful resources, such as academic tutors or websites with assistance. “We can direct them to the right resources just by talking with us,” he said. Once students are aware of what student success coaches can do for them, they can find significant benefits from the relationship.
The Benefits of Online Education
Our success team has seen the many benefits of online learning firsthand through experience. “It allows for flexibility; you don’t have to sit in a classroom on a specific day,” he said. “You can have a full-time job, a family and still work toward earning your degree.” He also lauded the school faculty members and their work to help students succeed. “All of us are working to see these programs succeed and all of the students take off.”
Forming Good Habits
The success team often sees students who need extra guidance getting back in the flow of completing assignments. “We encounter a lot of study habit problems that students have from being out of school for so long,” he said. “We can help them get their life balanced.” They can suggest strategies such as setting aside dedicated time to study, or forming a “study area” at home to help students form good study habits. They also continue to check in and offer support as necessary as students get adjusted to their online program.
Advice for Students Interested in Online Degrees
“Do not be afraid to ask questions,” he instructed. This should especially be the case for students who are falling behind in courses. “If you fall too far behind, it will be hard to get back up,” he added. “We have plenty of resources for students to stay on track or catch up quickly, but that can’t work unless you reach out.”
He also warned that coming to the staff at the end of the semester won’t be of much help to students. “If you come to us saying you aren’t going to pass a class, we can only tell you that we could have helped more at an earlier point.”
Contacting Your Coach
Upon beginning classes, students will be put in touch with a member of the student success team. “We contact them as soon as they first log in to their online classroom,” he said. “At that point, it’s up to them if they would like to communicate more via email or phone. We can regularly reach out to them as they desire.”
The Success Coach Difference
“Students who we don’t hear from often are the ones who don’t stay in the program,” he said. “If you feel like you need to drop out, reach out to us. We can help you keep in the program.”
Our student success coaches are a great resource for Point Park students to use on their online education journey. They have a variety of resources available for students at every point of their program. To get started on your educational journey, visit our degree program pages today.
