1. Academic Coaching as a Creative Process
Presenter
Leslie Cabrera
Vanessa Cabrera
Kamille Harris

2. Pioneer Center for Student Excellence
Location : Blagg-Huey Library, suite 220.
Serving the Denton, Dallas, and Houston campuses, the Center provides free programs and services that enhance the student academic experience.
Center has been open for about 4 years
Services:
Education Abroad
QEP (Quality Enhancement Program)
Internships
Terry Foundation Scholars
Advising
Academic Coaching

3. What is Academic Coach?
An on-going, peer-to-peer partnership that is focused on the process of learning.

4. Academic Coaching is a Game with one rule:
HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED!

5. Why is Coaching important?
Improves student performance and engagement levels
Encourages self-management and self-regulation
Helps students decrease stress
Helps students think through obstacles

6. What is creativity? The basic definition of Creativity is…
The use of original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

7. How is Academic Coaching a creative processes?
IDEATION: Development of ideas, connecting patterns, envisioning solutions; imagination; no boundaries
FLEXIBILITY: Unstructured, freedom
EXPLORATION: Discovery; traveling through the unfamiliar; freedom; positive movement
AUTONOMY: Independence; agency; seeing students as capable; confidence; choice; self- actualization; freedom
INTUITION:  Ability to trust the self and take risk without need for conscious reasoning; vulnerability
ORIGINALITY: Recognition of students’ uniqueness; utilization of “new” knowledge, presenting new ideas, combining prior knowledge/experiences  with theory,
RELATIONAL: Emotional, trust, bi- directional, vulnerability, freedom, semi-structured, accountability

8. IDEATION Student: Coach: Looking for ways that best fit the student
Critical thinking
Designing a process in academics
Plan ahead
Develop goals
Coach:
Communicating new ideas
Team work
Coach to Student
Coach to Coach

9. FLEXIBILITY Student: Coach: Self directed Goals
Time(student schedule)
Prepared or not prepared
Student decides direction
Goals
Student self-directed
Coach:
Intentional approach (Coach decides how to approach the session)
conversation
interaction
questions
backup
Supplemental Materials
Intake Form
Academic Success Plan (one, two or three obstacles)
Goals
For the student needs
Plan ahead

10. EXPLORATION Student: Coach:
Learning new strategies for academic success
Cultivating strengths in school/life
Finding out what works for YOU
Embracing the unfamiliar
Coach:
Learning strengths and weaknesses
Finding your passion
Being able to have a larger role
Mentorship
Programming
Resources

11. AUTONOMY Student: Coach: Empowerment Independence
Build a positive mind set
Coach:
Empowerment
Building accountability
Independence in session

12. INTUITION Student: Coach: Being yourself Trust (self, process) Risk
Weakness
Coach:
Being yourself
Vulnerable
Trust
Aware
Prior Experience
Learn by doing (instinct)

13. ORIGINALITY Student: Coach: Coaching session is tailor-made
Coach-student bond is unique
Coach:
Difference in coaching styles
Using your strengths and prior knowledge to your advantage in coaching sessions
Freedom

14. RELATIONAL Student: Coach: Open-minded Willing develop relationship
Accountability
Coach:
Impression management
Practicing empathy
Vulnerable/ authentic
Accountability  

15. Issues in Academic Coaching
A battle that demands a high level of emotional and intellectual labor; a mental battle that demands coaches to wrestle with our own worldviews, knowledges, and implicit biases.

16. Issues Logistical Relational issues
Scheduling
Returning Students a
Relational issues
personality/identity (differences)
Emotional vulnerability
Learning curves for Academic Coaches
Being okay with not having THE answer
Identity as students working with students (typically a position for faculty/staff; challenging traditional power hierarchies)
Structural differences between jobs
Learning and knowing when and how to use new information quickly
Using skills that may not be a strength to you (instincts)

17. Group Activity:
As a group, discuss what are some best practices and strategies that you use in your tutoring or supportive services space?

18. Q&A

19. Contact Info:
Vanessa Cabrera
Leslie Cabrera
Kamille Harris