One week ago, the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota celebrated the graduation of more than 1,200 students at our Winter Commencement Ceremony at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Each of these graduates is a mark of success for our college, but also a reminder that in an ever-changing world we can never become complacent about meeting their needs.

To ensure our students are fully prepared for their future we have recently updated SCF’s College and Career Success office. College and Career Success Coaches will now assist students to develop individual educational plans and explore career options to achieve their academic, professional and personal goals. The change in the department has provided SCF the opportunity to move beyond traditional advising to a proactive model that allows coaches to customize outreach and communication to each student.  

This model is a part of a national trend that is expanding beyond just helping students enroll in classes and is moving towards engagement, development and career preparation. Students are paired with a success coach that will assist them with degree completion, internships, career readiness opportunities and any needed resources. SCF success coaches engage with students throughout the academic year and provide proactive assistance around academic success, financial support, mental health and degree completion.   

Each success coach is assigned a caseload that allows them to build strong connections to assist the students from admissions to graduation and beyond. Success coaches will have a pulse on student life, resources and support services to help students engage in campus culture and build their professional portfolio. Students can expect to engage with their success coach during orientation and experience a seamless transition from our enrollment and admissions specialists. Our goal is to provide every student with a strong network of support that is not only there to guide and answer questions, but also to engage in conversation and connect them to resources before they are needed. 

The College and Career Success office is staffed with 11 coaches. There are eight coaches at the Bradenton Campus, three coaches at the Venice Campus, and four coaches who rotate on the Lakewood Ranch Campus. All SCF students can meet with their success coach in person, virtually or over the phone. Each coach received a multi-day orientation and training that included information about all aspects of SCF. The coaches continue to receive training and updates to ensure they are up to date with program changes, services and opportunities. The coaches have also provided training to the college community about how they can assist students towards degree completion, career placement and seamless transfer. 

Success coaches are specialized across all disciplines and degrees, which allows the office to seamlessly work with any student. The model also allows success coaches to see students who need immediate assistance, like tutoring and counseling, and those that are looking to develop their career portfolio and participate in internships. The team is excited to unveil the model and assist students in making the most out of their time here at SCF.  

The success of our students is paramount to our mission. Our success coaches will provide the one-on-one support that sets up students for success academically and to move directly into our local workforce or seamlessly transfer upon graduation. We applaud the more than 1,200 SCF students who graduated this winter and look forward to supporting and celebrating many more who will follow in their footsteps for years to come.

Dr. Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.