Success Coaching

Success Coaches meet one-on-one with undergraduate students to build rapport, educate students about university-wide resources and develop personal plans to facilitate student success. This program is open to all undergraduate students.


Learning Outcomes (after meeting with a Success Coach, the student will be able to):

  1. Identify areas of need
  2. Learn about existing resources available to support success
  3. Develop skills to achieve success
  4. Demonstrate the ability to be responsible for his/her own academic success

Topics That May Be Covered in a Success Coaching Appointment:

  1. Study Skills (methods for note-taking, how best to organize notes, best time to study, etc.)
  2. Financial Awareness (Knowing the deadlines for completing forms for Financial Aid, understanding what scholarships are available, how a change of Academic Standing and number of credits attempted can affect your aid)
  3. Academic Planning (Goal setting, identifying issues resulting in change of Academic Standing, developing strategies to improve academic performance)
  4. Time Management (Juggling work, school, and life)
  5. NSU G.P.S.: Going Places for Success (Students will be referred to assorted campus resources at their disposal, including the Office of Academic Services for Testing and Tutoring, Career Development, Financial Aid, Counseling, etc.)
  6. Getting to Know Your Faculty
  7. Self-Awareness (Helping students understand strengths, values, interests, purpose, and passion, and how to be responsible for their own actions and decisions)

Success Coaching FAQs

What is a Student Success Coach?

A Student Success Coach at NSU is a trained staff member whose sole function is to help our students with academic success. We follow the model for Success Coaches that has been developed by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), which says a success coach should have the skills to:

  • Identify what the student wants to achieve
  • Encourage the student to look within to learn more about self
  • Allow/support the student to generate solutions and strategies to problems
  • Teach the student to be responsible and accountable for his/her actions/inactions and decisions
What is Success Coaching?

Success Coaching is a one-on-one appointment with a Success Coach. You will meet with a professional staff member from the Office of Undergraduate Student Success who will tailor the meeting to your specific needs, situations, and goals. Success Coaches will help you with issues pertinent to success, including but not limited to the following:

  • Time Management
  • Goal Setting
  • Study Skills
  • Financial Awareness
  • Getting to know your faculty
  • Academic Planning

In addition, we are happy to refer you to the various resources available on campus, including Student Counseling, Financial Aid, Testing and Tutoring, and Career Development. We refer to this process as NSU G.P.S (Going Places for Success).

Who can benefit from a Success Coach?

Almost anyone can benefit from success coaching! If you feel there is something preventing you from achieving academic success, we can assist. Success coaching is a great resource for modifying existing behaviors and exploring new areas for academic and personal growth.

How do I make an appointment for success coaching?

There are several ways to request an appointment for success coaching at NSU.

  1. You can refer yourself through the Student Success Portal, located at www.nova.edu/studentsuccess, and a member of our office will call you to set up an appointment
  2. You can e-mail us at studentsuccess@nova.edu and a member of our office will call you to set up an appointment
  3. You can also call one of the Success Specialists directly at (954) 262-8536 (Gabrielle Grant) or (954) 262-8485 (Sheila Fabius).
What is a typical success coaching appointment like?

You will meet one-on-one with your coach for 45-60 minutes. Prior to the appointment, the coach will send you an e-mail reminder about the meeting and request that you complete an "All About Me" form. This form needs to be returned to the coach 48 hours before the appointment, as it gives the coach some time to learn more about you before the meeting. The coach will spend some time getting to know you, especially assessing your particular needs, and will work with you to create a Success Plan. You may schedule an additional appointment or may find that you received the resources needed.