02-06-22 Education - Flipbook - Page 7
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, February 6, 2022 7
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
UMGC employs approximately 170 success coaches with some located on the west coast.
Success coaches bring personalized
support to UMGC students
L
istening to the needs and requests from
its students, the University of Maryland
Global Campus (UMGC) provides
every one of its students with a success coach. It’s an innovative student
support system that can make a difference for all
students – not just ones who actively need help.
“Yes, having a success coach definitely helps,”
says Havre de Grace resident Liz Barrett, 35,
who graduated in December 2021 from UMGC
with a B.A. in Psychology. “It felt like there was
someone in my court; someone there rooting for
me, understanding what I am going through with
college. It’s nice to be noticed.”
Barrett, a single mother, started at UMGC
in 2019 while working full time at a financial
institution – most recently as a mortgage closer,
although she has worked as a teller, in collections
and the back office. Previously in 2010, she earned
an A.A. degree in fine arts. Eventually in August
2021, Barrett quit her job of 16 years to focus
solely on finishing up her degree. She accomplished her mission with the help of her UMGC
success coach.
“Life has gotten more complicated. Going to
college is not just about navigating academics,
but [also] challenges and obstacles that come up
in student’s life,” says Martina Hansen, UMGC
senior vice president and chief student affairs
officer. In 2020, approximately 90,000 students
enrolled at UMGC where Business, Information
Technology and Cybersecurity count among pop-
ular majors. 95% of students there get their degree
online or through a hybrid format.
“Our students are primarily adults in the
workforce and serving in the military and are
located around the globe. They have unique factors in their lives as opposed to students who go to
college right after
high school."
To best serve
its unique student population,
UMGC implemented success
coaching, a concept that sprang
from
feedback received
from students.
Previously when
students needed
support, they
talked to a group
of
academic
advisors. But
now each student gets assigned to only one success coach. Students get a designated person that
they will always talk to “who knows their individual goals and helps them work toward them,” says
Hansen. “They don’t have to tell their history to a
variety of people. It’s a more tailored approach.”
Barrett’s success coach “reached out and
checked in frequently,” she says. “It felt like I had
a point of contact. I get overwhelmed, so having
a singular point of contact made it less stressful
and overwhelming for me.” Barrett praises her
success coach as “always patient, encouraging and
knowledgeable. Like when I had questions about
electives, or I needed to change a course I signed
up for to another
semester, my coach
always got back to me
quickly. She was very
responsive.”
Barrett values that
her coach cheered her
on. “Especially as I
got closer to graduation, she’d hype me
up, remind me ‘only
this many credits left.’
Then a week before
graduation I got a call
from her, and she said
she’d follow up after
graduation to help me
with resources like
Career Quest. She knows I am not exactly sure
what to do next.” Currently, Barrett is considering her options, including working as a therapist
or getting a master's degree in art therapy as art
remains her passion.
“Let me know if you need anything,” might
have been the comment from some college advisors compared to today where UMGC’s success
coaches provide academic outreach – even intervention.
“They’ll see when a student didn’t turn in an
assignment as a red flag and [reach out to] help
get them back on track. We now anticipate when
they need help,” says Hansen. “It’s a higher level of
touch. We saw a need for more touch points for
our students to be successful.”
UMGC employs approximately 170 success
coaches with some located on the west coast.
“It’s important to us that they are available when
our students are available,” says Hanson, because
UMGC students live across different time zones.
Making full use of technology, success coaches
connect with students in a variety of ways including text, Zoom, personalized e-mails, and old
school face to face meetings when possible –
whatever works best for each student.
Student feedback reflects appreciation for the
success coaches. “Our research shows that they
bring tremendous value,” says Hansen. “Students
need a dedicated person to help support their
journey who understands their situation and can
help provide them what they need when they
need it”
“I know she was doing her job, but it felt like
she genuinely cared about my success. Also, I
could explain where I am in life,” says Barrett.
Learn more about success coaches and what
UMGC can do for you at UMGC.edu.
NO
APPLICATION
FEE
Invest in your future and get the credentials you need for the career you want.
Now through February 14, we’ll waive your application fee. Earn your degree
or certificate online from University of Maryland Global Campus. Choose from
more than 90 degrees, specializations and certificates. UMGC offers:
n
Online and hybrid courses available
n
Personalized advising and lifetime career services
n
No-cost digital resources replacing most textbooks
n
Financial resources and scholarships for those who qualify
Scan the QR Code to apply.
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