Success Coaching

Success Center and Success Coaching

Become an engaged and competent learner with help from our undergraduate Success Centers. Whether you are a new first year student or transfer student, an upper-class student or soon-to-be graduate, our professional and graduate assistant Success Coaches are trained to assist you and connect you to the appropriate campus resources.

Our offices are open 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday and are in Noss Hall (California campus), Becht Hall (Clarion campus) and Ross Hall (Edinboro campus). We welcome students by appointment and walk-in. Students can make an appointment through Starfish.

What Can a Success Coach do for me?

By meeting with a Success Coach or other representative of our office you can learn the academic skills that will allow you to set goals, achieve academic success and become the architect of your own future at PennWest and beyond.

Hear From Past Success Coaching Staff

Connect with your Success Coach

Your Success Coach is also here to help. Success Coaches are available for face-to-face meetings with students on the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses. Global Online students also have coaches available to them virtually. Appointments can be made via Starfish or log in to the Kiosk for a walk-in appointment.

Click here for our Success Coach Brochure.

Staff can help you with topics such as:

In addition to one-on-one appointments, we also offer more than 130 virtual workshops each fall and spring semester.

schedule of success workshops

The Success Center is here to motivate, encourage, and support students throughout their journey.

For questions, contact successcoaching@pennwest.edu.

Support Programs

The Center for Student Outreach and Success Coaching offers programs to help new students make a strong start academically, and to assist students who need to improve their grade-point average and overall academic standing.

Support For All

All undergraduate students are linked with a Success Coach based on major. This coach is familiar with the specific faculty in your program, the educational rigor and specific support needs of students within the major and are your “go to person” for questions a student may have on campus.

Success Tools and Resource Training (START)

At PennWest we want every student to START with the same advantages. Students conditionally admitted to the university are automatically enrolled in our START program. This mandatory program pairs the student with a Graduate Assistant Success Center staff member for weekly meetings, connections to University resources, guidance in navigating University life, and a connection to important transition to college issues. Students in this program are provided with a daily planner to stay on top of tasks.

Academic HealthyU

Students who fall below a 2.0 term GPA but have a cumulative GPA greater than 2.0 are on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning complete survey of academic needs, are connected to student supports, are required to meet with their faculty advisor at least once during the term and are connected with Success Coaching support staff to ensure they get back on track for the next semester.

Probationary Assistance Program (PASS)

Probationary Assistance, or PASS, is a mandatory program for students on Academic Probation. Students will work with a Graduate Assistant and/or professional Success Coach to develop a personalized plan to improve their grade-point average and receive additional structure and support that may be necessary for students on academic probation, or who were readmitted after dismissal. Students are required to meet with an assigned staff member from our Success Coaching office once a week throughout the semester for mandatory meetings to reflect on how they are doing academically, socially, emotionally, etc. In addition, students must also attend various success workshops. These workshops focus on subjects like communication, time management, test anxiety, etc.

Academic Suspension(s) and the Appeals Process

Undergraduate students who are Academically Suspended from the University may submit an appeal by completing a form provided in their official academic standing letter from the Office of the Registrar. Deadlines for appeals for Spring semesters are Jan. 2 and for Fall semesters are June 10.

Suspension appeals are reviewed by a committee of faculty and staff with decades of higher education experience.

For questions, contact successcoaching@pennwest.edu.