Whether students need someone to listen, help them stay organized, talk through a challenge, or understand what’s getting in their way, CoachLink is here to help.
Offered at EMU since 2010, the program offers one-on-one personalized coaching and mentoring to help undergraduate students adjust to life away from home. CoachLink can help support students struggling with time management, stress, anxiety, depression, attention issues, and general problems with their moods or concentration. The program is available to EMU students at no cost.
CoachLink has been completely rebooted this year, with three new coaches joining the program. We talked to one of those coaches, Karissa Sanford, to learn all about the program and how it supports students on campus.
What is CoachLink?
We walk alongside students and meet them where they’re at. Some students might struggle academically, with time management, organization, or just adjusting to college life in general, so we mentor them in that we listen to them, talk with them, and come up with goals and ideas to iron out their problems so they can be more successful here on campus. We always say that success looks different for everyone. Some people don’t want to be A+ students and that’s fine. We’ll help you become the best B+ student on campus if that’s your goal. We want to help you get there, but overall, we want you to graduate.
Who is it for?
CoachLink is for anybody. You don’t have to be in a bad spot or struggling. We’re here for students in whatever way they need to get connected to talk, so we’re always a resource that’s available to them.
Has there been a lot of interest from students?
We’re starting to pick up because we’re at the point in the semester where students start to identify that what they’re doing might not be working and that they might need some extra support. All my meetings have been positive. Sometimes they already know what to do; they just need a little extra encouragement. With other students, what they’re doing might not necessarily be wrong. It’s just not working for them, and so it’s all about trying different techniques.
Where were you before coming to EMU?
I’m originally from a very small town in Ohio (Saint Paris) and then went to college at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for three years (graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education). My mom and I just moved here in May, so I’m new to Harrisonburg, new to EMU, and new to this role.
In addition to Sanford, Valarie Ghant and Celeste Thomas serve as the other two CoachLink coaches. Learn more about the coaches here.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
I love meeting with students and seeing their eyes light up. Some students come in and they can be pretty defeated. They’ve been struggling for a while and they feel like it’s snowballed and that they’re never going to get out of it. I love when we talk about techniques and they realize, This might actually work for me. I love seeing that look on their face. When they come back and it’s working and they’re doing a lot better, it just makes me so happy because I loved my college experience. It was some of the best years of my life and I want other people to feel that, too. I want everyone to leave college feeling like they were successful and accomplished and proud of what they did and happy with their time here. I like to help students find that.
Where do you meet with students?
We can meet here (in Room 275D of the Visual and Communication Arts/VACA department), but we leave it up to students where they feel most comfortable. I meet a lot of students at Common Grounds because it’s a fun area. We can take a walk around campus, go to Campus Center or the library, wherever works best for them.
How often do you meet with each student?
It’s up to the student. I have students who meet with me once—they just need a little bit of advice—and then they’re like, OK, cool, I don’t need to meet with you anymore. And that’s totally fine. Other students want to meet every week and keep this as a part of their routine.
How can students sign up for the program?
To meet with one of our coaches, they can email us at coachlink@emu.edu.
Learn more about the CoachLink program at emu.edu/studentlife/coachlink.
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