Coaches Corner Part 1: Why Every ASU Online Student Gets a Success Coach

Over the past 20 years, an estimated 31 million students have attained some college credit but no degree. Why is that? “The truth is, for many of these students it’s not about their aptitude or their desire to earn a degree,” said Phil Regier, Arizona State University Dean for Educational Initiatives and CEO of EdPlus. “Something happened, life got in the way – and if we’re not finding a way to help these students earn a degree in a way that fits into their life and providing the resources they need to succeed, it’s a huge waste of human capital.”

Millions of students were falling through the cracks and missing out on opportunities to follow their dreams. We believed the first step towards reversing this trend was hidden in partnership, support and relationship building. ASU Online’s solution was the launch of the Student Success Center, with a team of success coaches who partner with students to support them in achieving their personal and academic goals.

Success coaches help with the transition from high school or the working world to becoming an online student, assist in goal setting, offer time management advice, provide tips on academics, connect students to university resources and much more. Their goal is to empower each student to reach their full potential and ensure they have what they need to thrive.

Overseeing the Student Success Center is Sr. Director, Nancy Cervasio. With a master’s degree in counseling and a background in student services, she leads more than 60 ASU Online success coaches in supporting each student’s educational journey.

“The number one reason students reach out to coaches is time management,” says Cervasio. With her guidance, Success Coaches help students balance their studies, extracurricular activities, and everyday life empowering them to prioritize and ultimately becoming more independent learners.

Listen to Student Success Center Sr. Director, Nancy Cervasio, describe how Success Coaches work with ASU Online students.

Each of the more than 30,000 ASU Online students is paired with a success coach to help keep them on track towards earning their degree. With the right resources in place and coaches dedicated to helping each student access them, we’re making big strides towards giving learners a successful alternative to the traditional classroom experience. Those who may once have been labeled “non-traditional students” are quickly showing how the flexibility offered by online programs makes their style of learning, along with the support of our Success Coaches, the new norm for collegiate success.

ASU Online success coaches provide a level of support and guidance that can make all the difference in a student’s journey toward earning their degree. We’ll explore this important role in a four-part series with our next story featuring Success Coach Felicia O’Neal on her personal approach to working with students.