From left, Emily McClaine, Earl Coburn, Corrine Gibson and Sunshine Mushrush discuss ways to improve Slippery Rock University student success. McClaine, Coburn and Mushrush were recently hired by the university to serve as success coaches. Gibson, director of the Office for Inclusive Excellence, will supervise the trio.

SLIPPERY ROCK — They won't be wearing whistles around their necks or conducting two-a-day practices, but coaches have arrived at Slippery Rock University ready to help students win.

As part of a strategy to focus on student success, SRU hired three student success coaches who will help connect all students to academic and social services provided by the university and make recommendations for desirable outcomes.

“This will expand our ability to retain students and keep them on the path to graduation,” said David Wilmes, associate provost for student success. “We've hired people to do proactive outreach to students to help them reach their goals.”

Slippery Rock is among the first institutions in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education to hire student success coaches, but, according to Wilmes, Slippery Rock's approach is different from other institutions' models because SRU's student success coaches will reach out to students who are struggling, in addition to providing services upon request.

The new student success coaches are part of the university's Office for Inclusive Excellence. They will meet with students, develop an individualized plan, refer students to services and follow up with them to ensure that they are executing the plan optimally.

“It's a one-stop shop for students to connect to whatever they need on campus,” said Corinne Gibson, director of the Office for Inclusive Excellence. “These conversations are important to not only make sure their requirements are being met, such as taking enough credits to graduate on time, but also to help students make successful choices, both academically and socially.”

The student success coaches, hired July 10, include:

n Earl Coburn, from Glenshaw, who previously worked in customer service for the University of Pittsburgh's housing department.

n Emily McClaine, from Austintown, Ohio, who was previously a program coordinator for academic diversity outreach and the TRIO McNair Scholars Program at Kent State University.

n Sunshine Mushrush, a 2015 SRU graduate from Grove City, who was previously a clerk in the academic services department at SRU.

It's a homecoming, said McClaine.

“I grew up in Western Pennsylvania in Clarion County,” she said. “I got my bachelor's degree at Duquesne University and later spent three months in Rome.”

McClaine said, “After those experiences, I wanted to work with students who might not have had access to those opportunities.”

McClaine said she and her fellow coaches will spend August informing the rest of the university of their services and training.

“We're all excited for the opportunity to enhance students' experiences and help students reach their full potential,” Mushrush said. “The best way for us to do that is to understand what each student needs to succeed, match that with all the great resources that SRU has to offer and help overcome any barriers that may hinder a student's path to success.”

“We are not counselors, it's a coaching position,” said McClaine. “Students with academic, personal or social issues can be matched up with the right help.”

Once the fall semester begins, Aug. 28, the success coaches will be in Suite 234 in the Robert M. Smith Student Center on campus.

“Students can come to success coaches at any time,” McClaine said.