Coaching-Informed Advising: Empowering Students Through Reflective Conversations

Keywords: 

Student Success Student Persistence, Retention and Academic Skills Advising Special Populations

Abstract: 

This session introduces Academic Success Coaching as a personalized, one-on-one support service that uses reflective conversations to promote student growth. Drawing on their experience as certified academic life coaches, the presenters explore how academic advisers can incorporate coaching-informed techniques, such as powerful questioning, goal setting and action planning, accountability, and reflection, into everyday advising conversations to empower students to take ownership of their academic journey.

Recognizing that advising and coaching can sometimes occupy overlapping spaces, the presenters also discuss how they have intentionally built a collaborative, student-centered partnership that leverages the strengths of both approaches to better support student growth and success. Through shared advising scenarios, participants will explore how coaching techniques can be applied in common advising contexts and will have the opportunity to practice these skills in an interactive and engaging format.

Date: 

Thursday, September 24, 2026 - 11:00am to 12:00pm

Location: 

Room 204

Presenter(s): 

Chelsey Walls, M.Ed.

Title: 
Assistant Director, Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success, Undergraduate Education
Institution: 
Penn State

Tanja St. Pierre, M.A.

Title: 
Director, Division of Undergraduate Studies
Institution: 
Penn State

Kelly M. Griffith, Ph.D.

Title: 
Director, Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success
Institution: 
Penn State