Coaching in Higher Education
Certificate Program
Coaching strategies to support change leadership and student success in higher education have gained traction through national initiatives sponsored by Achieving the Dream, Education Strategy Group, and Jobs for the Future. While these national efforts have established strong frameworks and visibility for coaching, work at the state level through the NYS Student Success Center Coaching Academy represents a distinct, localized approach to developing coaching capacity within our context.
Grounded in the core competencies and standards of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), this certificate program prepares higher education professionals to serve as effective coaches and contributors to institutional change. Participants will explore evidence-based coaching strategies, cultivate a coaching mindset, and apply practical skills that foster organizational growth, strengthen collaboration, and enhance peer and student support. The courses emphasize goal-oriented, strengths-based, holistic, and solution-focused approaches that center the person or team being coached, empowering them to build self-efficacy and ownership of their goals. Learning experiences include synchronous sessions, discussions, readings, scenario exploration, coaching practice, and reflective assignments.
See individual course descriptions below for detailed information.
Sponsored by the NYS Student Success Center and the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD)
Course Descriptions
Course 1: Coaching Strategies
There is a growing need within public colleges for professionals to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to effectively support and guide individuals and teams. Grounded in the core competencies and standards of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), this course draws on both national models and state-level experience to prepare higher education practitioners to use coaching as a tool for growth and positive influence within their professional contexts. Whether working with individual students, small groups, or institutional teams, participants will explore how coaching principles can support meaningful development and foster change in their spheres of influence. Participants will explore coaching strategies, cultivate a coaching mindset, and apply practical coaching skills that foster growth, strengthen collaboration, and enhance peer and student support.
At the completion of this course, all participants should be able to:
- Describe coaching strategies and identify opportunities for using them in the higher education context
- Develop effective coaching skills
- Identify and share the essential coaching core competencies
- Demonstrate and apply specific coaching skills
Completion Requirements:
Completion Requirements: Participants must provide evidence of growth as a coach through:
- Completion of pre- and post-course surveys,
- Participation in four (4) synchronous course sessions and watching recordings for any missed sessions,
- Participating in and submitting a reflection for three (3) coaching practice sessions,
- and engagement in online discussions.
- For completion with distinction, submit a 30-minute recorded coaching session and reflection that shows evidence of your growth as a coach. Your recording will receive feedback from one of the course instructors and may be used in future Coaching Strategies courses. You can expect to spend 3-4 hours/week on the course activities.
Additional Requirements:
Required text: Kimsey-House, K. (2018). Co-Active Coaching. ISBN-10: 9781473674981 | ISBN-13: 978- 978-1473674981
Required Assessment: Clifton Strengths: All participants will complete a Clifton Strengths Top 5 assessment as part of the program. The program fee will cover the cost (approximately $20 per attendee). Information on how to complete the assessment will be discussed within the course.
Course Delivery: Twelve (12) weeks, online asynchronous and six (6) synchronous sessions.
Course 2: Developing a Student Success Coaching Mindset
Prerequisite: Coaching Strategies
Student success coaching has become a vital tool for supporting holistic student development and enhancing retention and completion rates. This six-week course focuses on teaching the skills and frameworks necessary for effective and holistic student success coaching. Grounded in evidence-based practices, the course emphasizes goal-oriented, strengths-based coaching approaches that empower students to reach their academic and personal goals.
Participants will explore solution-focused coaching methods that can be tailored to address the diverse needs of students. This course complements “Coaching Strategies in Higher Education” by focusing specifically on student-centered coaching techniques and their practical application in driving student success outcomes.
At the completion of this course, all participants should be able to:
- Analyze the principles of evidence-based, strengths-based, and solution-focused coaching to support holistic student development and success in higher education.
- Design a student success coaching strategies toolkit that addresses diverse student needs, ensuring cultural responsiveness and adaptability for institutional scalability.
- Apply strengths-based coaching techniques that empower students to leverage their capabilities to achieve academic and personal growth.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of coaching strategies through continuous improvement methods, adjusting approaches to meet evolving student goals
Course Delivery: Six (6) weeks, online asynchronous with three (3) synchronous 90-minute session.
Course Completion Requirements: Participants must complete all assigned reflection discussion posts; participate in two (2) of the three (3) synchronous sessions and watch recordings for any missed session; and participate in two (2) practice coaching sessions. Participants can expect to spend approximately three (3) hours a week on course activities.
Target Audience
Mid to senior level leaders in a wide range of roles across functional areas (administration, faculty and staff) in postsecondary higher education institutions will benefit from this content. Additionally, leaders at all levels who are tasked with leading organizational change projects within their higher education institutions are welcome.
Course Completion Requirements
This is not a passive professional development program and participants should be active learners. Participants must be willing to practice coaching themselves, be coached by others in the program, and be observed while coaching. Reflection and constructive feedback will be required of all participants.
Course Pricing
How to Pay
Available payment methods are:
- Credit Card (Mastercard or Visa)
- CPD General Points
- SUNY Online+ Points
- Campus Check
- Journal Transfer
CPD General/Technical Points: To pay with CPD General or Technical Points, your campus must be a CPD Member. Check if your campus is a member. It is the responsibility of the registrant to determine if enough points are available to use BEFORE completing the registration process. Please contact your Campus Points Contact to determine points eligibility. If points are denied, the registrant is responsible for the payment.
SUNY Online+: To pay with SUNY Online+ Points, you must receive prior approval and you must submit a request via the SUNY Online+ CPD Points Approval Form
Campus Check: Prior campus approval is required. Make check payable to SUNY Center for Professional Development. Mail to SUNY CPD at the address below.
Journal Transfer (State Operated Campuses Only): Prior campus approval is required. An account number with authorizing signature for Journal Transfers is required within 48 hours. You must print and return the invoice that is included with the registration confirmation email.
Important: FULL payment is required 30 days from the date of registration. For more information click CPD Payment Terms and Conditions.
Meet the Instructors
Renee Dimino
Michele Forte
Susan Warner
Susan currently serves as the Manager of Online Student Support at SUNY Online. In this role, Susan is deeply committed to fostering collaboration among SUNY faculty and staff to promote the best practices in online student support and empowering SUNY campuses with essential online student support resources.
In her previous role as the Lead Success Coordinator for SUNY Online, Susan spearheaded the training and leadership of the SUNY Online Degrees at Scale student success coaching team, which provided success coaching to online students across seven SUNY campuses encompassing over twenty programs.
Before her tenure at SUNY Online, Susan played a pivotal role in implementing Guided Pathways at Monroe Community College as an MCC School Specialist. Susan has a passion for an appreciative, strengths-based approach to proactive student success coaching and a strong commitment to providing equitable, accessible support to all students.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Susan finds joy in coffee gatherings with friends, cheering on the Buffalo Bills, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Contact Us
The SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) supports a wide range of professional development opportunities for the academic, technical, and leadership communities across the SUNY System.
Phone: 315-214-2440 Email: cpdinfo@suny.edu