What is Academic Coaching?
A program that supports students by focusing on each student’s developmental needs regarding the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to achieve academic and personal success.
Students who engage in the Academic Coaching Program experience growth in the following areas: academic skills, confidence, critical thinking skills, personal development, and self-awareness.
A&S Academic Coaching is currently operating in a primarily virtual capacity. If you do not find an appointment that fits your desired appointment format at a time you are available, email your academic coach to see about other options. If you are an A&S undergraduate student who does not have an Academic Coach and would like one, please complete this form.
Here’s how to make a one-on-one academic coaching appointment, and view/search for the appointment format you prefer: Student Guide.
1. Go to Buff Portal Advising and log in with your CU credentials.
2. Click on your coach’s photo to access their appointment calendar. You will be able to sort by available meeting formats.
3. Click on any available individual appointment to enter your information and reserve it.
4. Once you’ve opened a given individual appointment and wish to reserve it, look at the modality offered under “Meeting Format.”
5. If an appointment is available as “In Person / Video / Phone Advising,” indicate your preference in the “Desired Outcome” box for the meeting by writing
“In Person” or “Video/Zoom” or “Phone - [include your number].”
6. If there is not an option given for the in-person appointment modality (e.g., the “Meeting Format” is “Video,” or “Video/Phone” then that appointment will
ONLY be offered virtually via Zoom).
If you scheduled an in-person academic coaching session, to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 before and during your meeting, we ask that you do the following:
1. Bring your laptop or tablet to the meeting so both you and your coach can look at your records without sharing a screen.
2. Although wearing a mask is optional, we provide disposable masks and encourage you to wear a mask during your in-person meeting.
3. Handwashing is a simple way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. We ask that you take 20 seconds to wash your hands before your in-person meeting.
4. If you aren’t feeling well, received a recent positive COVID-19 test but are asymptomatic, or were exposed to someone who had a positive COVID-19 test, please change your meeting format from in-person to video or phone format or reschedule your in-person appointment.
We're always here for you and appreciate your help in keeping our CU community healthy!
96%
of students who completed academic
coaching improved their GPAs
1.0+
In spring 2018, students who completed academic
coaching improved their term GPAs by over a point!
Student Testimonials
“Academic coaching was one of the best experiences I had...at CU. [My coach] asked me questions that helped me get to the root of the problem and try to begin solving those problems…and gave me a huge amount of resources that I could use for academics…” – Spring 2019 academic coaching student
“Academic coaching…really gave me the academic help and support that I needed in order to improve all the areas where I had many issues that were holding me back from performing well academically.” – Fall 2018 academic coaching student
"A good support system has made the biggest change in my academics. Between my Academic Coach, Academic Advisor, and the writing centers, I have not felt as alone and overwhelmed with my schoolwork."
- Spring 2018 academic coaching student
Who Do Academic Coaches Work With?
A&S Students on Academic Alert or Warning
Students whose CU GPA is below 2.0 at the end of their first semester at CU Boulder are placed on Academic Alert. Students on Academic Alert are encouraged to participate in the Academic Coaching program with multiple appointments throughout the semester. These students are assigned to an Academic Coach and can schedule a coaching appointment through Buff Portal Advising. Students who are on Academic Warning are also assigned to an Academic Coach and encouraged to participate in Academic Coaching.
A&S Students Who Receive a Course Alert Notification
If you receive a Course Alert notification, Academic Coaching is a resource that can help. If you received a Course Alert but do not have an Academic Coach, click here to sign up. If you already have an Academic Coach assigned to you, schedule an appointment or see your coach's drop in availability through Buff Portal Advising.
Any A&S Student Who Would Like to Meet with an Academic Coach
Any interested student in the College of Arts & Sciences can connect with Academic Coaching by signing up here. One of our Academic Coaches will contact you to discuss your interest in coaching.