SLIPPERY ROCK — Students considering leaving the university now have somewhere to turn to discuss the issues that are affecting their college experience.

Slippery Rock University officials announced last week they have instituted a student success coaching program to help wavering students and keep them in school.

SRU has partnered with InsideTrack, a company that will work closely with the university to custom-design the program, train coaches and managers, and put the process in place.

InsideTrack will train success coaches on engaging students, building relationships and responding to student needs through digital and other communication means.

Ed Neelley, the associate vice president of program development at InsideTrack, said last week that the training process will take about two years so the coaching skills can be embedded on the campus for the future. The program will be in place during that time.

SRU spokesman Ben Heverly said three university employees have finished InsideTrack's training program.

Heverly said the program is available to students now, and some students are already receiving counseling.

“(The university) felt this was an important enough program that they wanted to ensure they had dedicated people for it,” Neelley said.

He said while the program will help students with academic issues, only 20 percent to 30 percent of students leave college because of those issues.

“Most issues are 'life happens' types of issues, including finances, commitment to graduation, 'do I belong here?' and health and welfare,” Neelley said.

In some of the schools where InsideTrack has instituted programs, a small cohort of at-risk students are targeted. But SRU wants to cast a wider net.

“At Slippery Rock, they're making this available to all students,” Neelley said.

He said the university's retention numbers are already good, but talk in Pennsylvania of performance-based funding and filling classrooms to make them efficient has figured into SRU's decision to institute a student-retention program.

“There are financial gains in keeping students,” Neelley said.

But mainly the university is interested in helping students as much as possible as they move through the buildings and programs at Slippery Rock, Neelley said.

“At Slippery Rock University, they have a moral imperative of getting students through (to graduation),” Neelley said. “That sets them apart.”

He said posters in the student union and other means of outreach will be used to alert students of the assistance available.

Philip Way, SRU interim president, said the university takes pride in providing its students with comprehensive learning experiences and support to prepare them for success.

“We're working with InsideTrack to ensure that we remain on the leading edge in terms of delivering highly personalized student support in a cost-effective and scalable fashion,” Way said.

Neelley said InsideTrack professionals are glad to begin working with the university.

“Slippery Rock University is never satisfied with where they are,” Neelley said. “They're always looking for next-level programs to elevate their reputation.”