Coach's Corner
One of the services Union offers to all students (at no additional cost) is academic/life coaching. Union is one of the first colleges to ever implement this type of service on a college campus.
Coaching is a one-to-one process designed to guide students in exploring ideas, options and creating solutions to enhance their academic, life and career pursuits.
Students seek assistance of a coach for a variety of reasons: assistance in organizing responsibilities, creating a timeline for projects and papers, study tips, preparing for standardized tests and more.
Have a question about academics or life? Feel free to ask a coach: tinyurl.com/uc-askacoach. All questions are anonymous so you get insight without being in sight. We will publish answered questions here.
This section, Coach’s Corner, will provide another way for students to connect with academic coaching. This week I want to introduce the Teaching Learning Center’s (TLC) coaches.
Kian Mapp graduated from Union with a degree in IRR and she also has a master’s degree in community and international development from Andrews University. Kian has worked at the TLC as an academic coach since 2014. She loves getting to know students and learning their strengths and interests. In doing so, she’s able to help the student integrate those areas into a creative plan for their futures and prepare for their calling.
Jonathan Shields has been an employee of Union College since 2004 as the human resource director. He felt a calling to coaching early on and completed training through his graduate program at Doane College. He transitioned into his new role and calling as an academic coach in 2015 where he enjoys helping students in reaching their academic goals. He understands the importance of listening to assist students explore goals and develop priorities.
I, Debbie Forshee-Sweeney, graduated from Union College with a degree in social work. After working in my field I went back to school for my education degree. My favorite part of being the director is getting to coach students. I love assisting them in finding their “aha” moment. I like to help students make new history and find ways to move forward.
If interested in meeting with a coach or checking out other services the TLC has to offer, feel free to visit www.ucollege.edu/TLC or stop by the office in the Student Center.