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Coaching in Higher Education Certificate Program

There is a growing need within public colleges for leaders to have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to effectively lead and support individuals and teams. These virtual courses provide an overview of coaching strategies, explore the elements of developing a coaching mindset and approach, and review coaching core competencies and ethics. Specifically targeted for postsecondary leaders, these courses will highlight strategies for coaching that support team-based, organizational change leadership projects and programs, as well as strategies to support individual peer and student coaching. 
 
Coaching strategies have been used nationally by Achieving the Dream, Education Strategy Group, and Jobs for the Future to further support organizational change efforts and projects in higher education. Additionally, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) provides core competencies and ethical recommendations for executive leadership and other individual and team coaching. At the state-level, the first course is an offering of the NYS Student Success Center Coaching Academy. By supporting coaches at all levels in higher education, these courses are designed to develop leaders who can help guide their institutions and support students to enhance success and completion. The courses will utilize online synchronous learning sessions, online discussions, surveys, readings, videos, case studies, and an end of course summary reflection.

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 leaders to have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to effectively lead and support individuals and teams. This virtual course provides an overview of coaching strategies, explores the elements of developing a coaching mindset and approach, and reviews coaching core competencies and ethics. Specifically targeted for postsecondary leaders, this course will highlight strategies for coaching that support team-based, organizational change leadership projects and programs, as well as strategies to support individual peer and student coaching.

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 and facilitation skills
  • Identify and share the essential coaching core competencies
  • Demonstrate and apply specific coaching skills

Completion Requirements: To achieve a completion certificate, you must complete pre, mid and post course surveys, participate in four (4) synchronous sessions and watch recordings for any missed session, participate in three (3) out of the four (4) triad meetings, participate in all online discussions, and submit an end of course summary reflection. For completion with distinction, you can submit a 30 minute recorded coaching session for feedback from instructors. You can expect to spend 3-4 hours/week in the course activities.

Additional Requirements:

Required text: Kimsey-House, K. (2018). Co-Active Coaching. ISBN-10: 9781473674981  |  ISBN-13: ‎978- 978-1473674981         

Amazon: $18.00 – $19.99

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 Dates:

  • Summer: May 20th-August 11th, 2025

    Summer Synchronous Meeting Dates: Wednesdays 10:00am -11:30am

    • May 21st
    • June 4th
    • June 18th
    • July 2nd
    • July 16th
    • July 30th

    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 Dates: September 23rd-November 3rd, 2025

    Fall Synchronous Meeting Dates: Wednesdays 9:00am – 10:30am

    • September 24
    • October 8
    • October 22

    Course Completion Requirements: To achieve a course completion certificate, 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

    Course 1: Coaching Strategies (12 weeks)

    CPD Member: $400

    SUNY Campus: $450

    Non-SUNY: $500

    Course 2: Developing a Student Success Coaching Mindset (6 weeks)

    CPD Member $300

    SUNY Campus: $350

    Non-SUNY: $400

    Both Course 1 and Course 2 (18 weeks)

    CPD Member: $620

    SUNY Campus: $720

    Non-SUNY $820

    Group Discounts Available

    Additional discounts are available to groups of the following size attending the same program:

    • 5-9 people = 10% discount
    • 10-19 people = 15% discount
    • 20-29 people = 20% discount

    Please send your group request to cpdinfo@suny.edu at least 30 days prior to the start of the course/program.

    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

    Headshot of Renee Dimino

    Renee Dimino

    Renee Dimino is a professor at Monroe Community College and was the SUNY Guided Pathways Project Director. She has served as an alumni college coach as well as a lead coach supporting other pathways coaches. She currently serves as a lead coach for SUNY REACH. She was a participant in the NYS Student Success Center Coaching Academy Cohort 1 and Achieving the Dream’s national coach training. Renee co-designed and co-teaches the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) course Coaching Strategies for Higher Education and Design and Deliver Inclusive Courses. She completed the SUNY SAIL Mindful Leadership and the Career Readiness Champion certificate programs, both with distinction. In her faculty role, she coordinates College Success (COS) courses and adjunct faculty, and she uses her coaching skills in teaching College Success, co-requisite English, Health, and Career Development courses. Renee is a trained reflective practice facilitator who has a passion for student success and faculty development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from SUNY Geneseo and a master’s degree in Education from SUNY Brockport. She is currently pursuing her national health and wellness coaching certificate and enjoys spreading mindfulness through her business Mindful Life Connections. 
    Headshot of Michele Forte

    Michele Forte

    Michele Forte completed the first cohort of the Coaching Academy and serves as a lead coach for the SUNY REACH project.  Dr. Forte also works across several multi-campus, cross-functional communities of practice at the system level and is also a coach with the New York Student Success Center (NYSSC) Coaching Academy as well as for the SUNY REACH initiative. Dr. Forte is also an Associate Professor at SUNY Empire State University and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York State. She has extensive experience in mentoring and coaching diverse organizational and student populations in various educational and not-for-profit settings. Her scholarly interests include competency-based frameworks for assessing learning, high-impact coaching and mentoring models, and connections between grief, loss, and resilience.
    Headshot of Susan Warner

    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.

    Registration For Summer/Fall 2025

    Course 1: Coaching Strategies

    May 20th-August 11th, 2025

    Summer Synchronous Meetings: Wednesdays 10:00am-11:30am

    • May 21st
    • June 24th
    • June 18th
    • July 2nd
    • July 16th
    • July 30th

    Course 2: Developing a Student Success Coaching Mindset

    September 23rd- November 3rd, 2025

    Fall Synchronous Meetings: Three (3) Wednesday meetings, 9:00am – 10:30am 

    • September 24
    • October 8
    • October 22

    Register

    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

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