Polk State Success Coaches support freshmen, increased retention

Less than two years since its inception at Polk State College, the Success Coaching onboarding initiative is proving successful with an 82% retention rate for students who utilize coaching in their freshman year.  

Success Coaches assist first-time-in-college students with onboarding to the College and navigating their first year. They help freshmen complete the application process, apply for financial aid, register for classes, secure personalized resources, and access academic support.  The Success Office has an open-door policy and students can choose in-person, phone, text, email, or video conferences.

“We are truly here for them,” Success Coach Gabriela Coleman said. “We have seen this change grades, we have seen this change majors, and we have seen this [develop] career potential and opportunities to go on to other institutions.”

Within 72 hours of being admitted to Polk State, each first-time-in-college student receives communication from their designated Success Coach, who provides them with the link to the “Welcome to Polk State College Tutorial” in the College’s learning management system, Canvas. It helps new students connect with their Coach, learn about required College technology, complete onboarding steps to remove registration holds, and get registered for classes.

The initiative builds on Polk State’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Program, which launched in the fall of 2015 to improve retention and completion rates for first-time-in-college (FTIC) students. Polk State received the Chancellor’s Best Practice Award in 2019 for the highly successful FYE Program’s innovative approach to bolstering student success.

“We have seen this change grades, we have seen this change majors, and we have seen this [develop] career potential and opportunities to go on to other institutions.”

The College has continued to invest in the program, providing students with critical support, resources, and connections early in their academic careers to encourage persistence toward graduation and achievement of academic goals in a timely manner. The Success Coaching onboarding initiative was launched in the Summer 2022 Semester and has served more than 4,500 freshmen thus far.

“Our Success Coaches not only connect our students with the resources they need,” FYE Director Cate Igo said, “they also celebrate with our students when they have successes, provide a listening ear when they need it, and help them build their skillsets so that they have a foundation of success throughout their higher education journeys.”

All Polk State freshmen participate in the FYE Program. Those pursuing the Associate in Arts degree are also required to take the First-Year Seminar course focused on college success and career exploration. Success Coaches add a layer of support for FTIC students.

Nicholas Barnes, now a sophomore at Polk State, shared that not only his Success Coach but also the environment provided by the success coaching office has supported his transition to college life.

“It was definitely nerve-wracking at first. I confided in Success Coaches so that they could help me get more acclimated to the school,” sophomore Nicholas Barnes said.

“I think I’m one of their favorites now,” he joked, “I’m always in here hanging out, either with my friends or doing homework. It’s a nice spot to release and cool down after the pressure of school.”

“My advice for other freshmen would be to definitely go see a success coach. They’re very helpful with getting any help that you need, resources for tutoring, or just being someone to talk to.”

His peers echoed similar sentiments, advising other students to take advantage of success coaching.

“Being a first-time-in-college student was a little scary at first because I didn’t know what to expect,” freshman Valentina Arenas said. “[The success coaches] know all the secrets to college and they know exactly what to do to help you. Use all the resources available, especially your Success Coaches.”

Freshman Alexis Chappel shared the wide range of assistance her Success Coach has provided during her first semesters.

“What my Success Coach has taught me is time management. She has taught me that I need time for myself, and I need time for the classes that I want to take [without getting] overstressed,” Chappel said. “My advice for other freshmen would be to definitely go see a success coach. They’re very helpful with getting any help that you need, resources for tutoring, or just being someone to talk to.”

Success Coaches are available in the Lakeland Technology Building (LTB) 1149-1151 and on the second floor of the Winter Haven Learning Resources (WLR) Building. Contact information for each Success Coach is also available by clicking here.

“It’s critical for first-time-in-college students to receive this type of support because although they are all gaining a degree, they start at different places so they need different resources,” Coleman said. “We can help you figure out the resources you need to be successful.”