Coaching provides vital support for 1st-year students

Supporting student success with resources outside the classroom is vital to higher education, and much is known about the unique needs of first-year college students. Yet trends continue to show that first-year students struggle with the transition to college and underuse certain resources, such as mental health services. A review of a specific group of first-year students in a program in exploratory studies provides insight into their needs. Data supports the theories that though first-year students have similar self-reported levels of psychological distress when compared to other cohorts, they’re less likely to use campus health and wellness resources than their cohorts. Additionally, these first-year students report higher levels of academic distress than other cohorts and subsequently are willing to engage in academic coaching services. These results highlight the need for colleges and universities to invest in academic coaching as an essential resource for student retention and success.