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The Learning Center offers academic coaching to provide strengths-based academic assistance available for all students in the undergraduate program. In one-on-one sessions lasting 45 minutes Our academic coaches communicate with students from a variety of years, majors, and backgrounds, helping students set and meet their academic goals. A large number of Carolina students are seeking academic coaching since coaches are there at their current location and assist students in developing particular academic skills–e.g. more effective strategies to study in a specific course and preparing a study plan or managing academic transitions. Through regular training, coaches for academics assist students in developing more life skills, including self-awareness, decision-making skills, self-confidence, and resilience.
Academic coaches work with students to help students to:
- Take action and set your goals
- Keep yourself accountable and dedicated to your goals
- Learn about their habits and think patterns.
- Learn about their strengths and weaknesses.
- Increase self-regulation
- Learn effective study skills
What kind of issues are students working on when they are coached academically?
Students can seek out academic coaching on their own and bring a variety of subjects to their sessions. Most often students have general goals, like trying to improve their time-management skills, which is the most requested coaching area at the Learning Center. With academic guidance, the students discover strategies that will aid them in creating structure and balance in their everyday lives, manage their tasks and other responsibilities and deal with distractions and procrastination.
Students may bring their own narrow goals to a coaching session, for instance seeking help to improve their note-taking, master huge amounts of reading and develop effective study strategies to pass their tests. The coaches guide students in their exploration of different learning strategies and encourage students to try these methods during the session as well as independently.
Students who are moving from Carolina as the first time usually require assistance in adjusting to becoming an undergraduate at a major research university. For instance, students typically seek out academic coaching to talk about the new challenges that they have to face when taking a class which only meet twice per week. Coaches can assist them in identifying ways to connect with their teacher or professor assistants to strengthen connections and receive the extra help they might need.
A majority of students plan ongoing academic coaching sessions to receive regular accountability and guidance around their longer-term goals.
How can academic coaching help students in my class?
Students frequently use the academic coach services to assistance with a specific class. This support is tailored to the course and extends beyond working with our STEM experts. Procrastination and time management are two of the most frequently discussed coaching topics for academics. Academic coaches also assist students in establishing strategies for study and prepare for exams as well as tracking assignments, managing reading and planning long-term projects.
Who are the Academic Coaches?
Our team is comprised of professional, permanent coaches and coach for graduate students. All coaches receive the same training in fundamentals and conduct coaching sessions with the same principles, pedagogy and the “coach approach” to support students in our courses. Students can collaborate with any coach, and experience a an effective session that is customized to meet their specific requirements. However, we do have academic coaches who are experts in helping students with ADHD and learning differences as well as personnel who are experts in helping the students taking STEM classes.
Do you provide coaching groups?
Yes. Alongside working in conjunction with an academic advisor students may also collaborate with other students in groups. Some students would rather connect with other students who are facing similar challenges which is why coaching groups can be the perfect opportunity for first introduction for students to connect with our Learning Center. The coaching group we offer is that are designed to assist students in Biology 101 and 102, Chemistry 101 and 102 Math 130, 231 as well as Physics 114. We also provide the opportunity to coach students suffering from ADHD. Additionally, we provide specific coaching groups for example “Conquering College Reading” and “Academic Life Balance.”
What is the difference between academic coaching from academic tutoring and peer tutoring?
Although academic coaching sessions often concentrate on specific content of the course however, their focus is usually larger. Peer tutoring sessions in contrast are focused on only specific course material. Academic coaches assist students to improve their performance in various subjects that affect their academic lives in general and peer tutors assist their students to help them succeed in particular classes.
In the same way, though academic coaches might discuss matters of the course’s planning and the main requirements with the students they advise, advisors to academics lead students in discussions about these issues with greater depth and depth.
What is the story behind academic coaching at the Learning Center?
UNC was among the first institutions in the nation to provide coaching for students. It continues to be the national leader in this approach to students. The program was initially offered to students suffering from ADHD from 2000 onwards by the Department of Learning Disabilities Services. The staff at the were receiving extensive training from the Co-Active Institute which was one of the very first coaching schools across the country. In 2007 an administrative overhaul brought together staff from Learning Disabilities Services with staff from the Learning Center and the long-standing Writing Center in forming one department charged with providing academic support for students of all UNC students. Since the time, all staff in the Writing and Learning Center receive an introductory coaching program via Co-Active Training Institute. Co-Active Training Institute, followed by ongoing training and assistance from their colleagues in the Learning Center.