Center for Student Success

Success Coaching

The Oberlin College and Conservatory Success Coaching model is grounded in Appreciative Education and other asset-based approaches. Students work alongside professional coaches to define their own success, leverage their strengths, and develop realistic and individualized plans to accomplish their pre-determined goals.

Who are the Success Coaches?

Success Coaches are masters and doctorate level professionals who are trained in asset-based, student-centered approaches to coaching. They facilitate student connections with multiple departments and services on campus, all of which serve as vital partners in achieving student success.

Success Coaching Services

Success Coaching services can include:

  • One-on-one Success Coaching: 30-minute sessions between a Success Coach and a student that are individualized to the students needs and goals. These sessions can cover topics such as time management, self-efficacy, effective communication, value alignment, and more.
  • Group Success Coaching: 30-minute to 2-hour sessions for various campus groups (classes, athletic teams, or student organizations) tailored to the specific needs of the group.
  • CliftonStrengths Coaching: 30-minute sessions between a Success Coach and a student to focus on exploring the students CliftonStrengths and applying them towards their goals.
  • Success Events: Events facilitated at intentional points during the semester to assist students in accomplishing academic and personal goals.

Make a Success Coaching Appointment

Schedule CliftonStrengths Coaching

Schedule a Group Coaching Appointment

"I appreciate Success Coaching not only as a resource to improve my performance academically, I also appreciate it as a way to constructively discuss my struggles in school. It has been great for reducing my stress about college and makes it feel more approachable."

"It felt very good to know I had solid support starting my first semester. I also appreciated the check-ins at the end of the semester!"

"My Success Coach was very helpful with getting my obligations in order and helping me understand how to go about each of them. They were very useful as a resource to help understand where to go to address various issues."

What to Expect

One-on-one Success Coaching sessions will begin with you and your Success Coach getting to know each other! Your Success Coach will ask you what you hope to accomplish during your session. Session goals can range from developing study schedules and to exploring various academic and personal interests. Each session is individual to the student and goals will vary.

If you have a goal in mind, Coaches will work with you to co-create a Success Plan with a manageable step-by-step process to help you reach your intended outcome. Sometimes, multiple Coaching sessions are neccessary to finalize these plans: students are not limited to the amount of Coaching sessions they can set up thoughout the year.