The Impact of Muhlenberg’s Innovative Coaching Program
An assessment of the program, in which a team of coaches guides each incoming student as they learn to make the most of the opportunities available on campus, found that 95% of first-year student respondents could identify three faculty or staff who support their journey at Muhlenberg.By: Meghan Kita Monday, October 28, 2024 03:49 PM
Marcelina Palmer ’27 (right) with her college life coach, Community Engagement Librarian Jess Denke. Photo by Kristi MorrisLast academic year, Muhlenberg launched a distinctive coaching program that matches each first-year student with a college life coach and a career coach in addition to a faculty advisor.
The College’s assessment of the inaugural year of the program found that, among the first-year students who responded:
- 95% said they can identify three faculty or staff who support their journey at Muhlenberg.
- 94% said after meeting with their academic advisor, they are confident they can fulfill the College’s general academic requirements.
- 91% said meeting with their college life coach allowed them to reflect on topics such as goals and their well-being.
- 81% said after meeting with their Career Center coach, they can identify experiences and/or opportunities to develop their career interests.
“I share with families that their first-year student will have and know three people who already care about them just a few weeks into their college experience,” says Dean of Students Courtney Stephens. “When you are brand new to campus, this is a very powerful and real experience that can help a student find a sense of belonging and home that much quicker.”
“I share with families that their first-year student will have and know three people who already care about them just a few weeks into their college experience. When you are brand new to campus, this is a very powerful and real experience that can help a student find a sense of belonging and home that much quicker.”
—Dean of Students Courtney Stephens
This academic year, 74 staff volunteered to be college life coaches, and there is representation from every division on campus. In the spring, the program will debut upperclass student coaches for first-year students — peers who can check in on their coachees as they navigate their second semester at Muhlenberg. This element was added because of the enthusiasm among upperclass students when the program was introduced: They thought a student perspective would be beneficial in addition to the faculty and staff coaches.
"Any time a student can be challenged and encouraged to further their exploration of their passions and interests is a critical component of a liberal arts education and is important,” Stephens says. “Any time a student can be reminded that there are a number of resources and opportunities available to them is critical. But any time those two things come together from coaches who genuinely care about them and are their support — that is Muhlenberg."
