University Coaching and Academic Mentoring (UCAM)
Looking for new ways to succeed in college and support while you learn those new strategies? Looking for support in navigating the many competing priorities of a student? Looking for a program that gives students with learning disabilities the tools to succeed? Looking for a university that offers more than accommodations? Then you are looking for UCAM.
[Alternate link to UCAM video]
If you'd like to talk with one of the coaches about what UCAM might do for you, then use our online calendar to schedule a time!
What is UCAM?
UCAM is a comprehensive, fee-for-services support program for students experiencing academic challenges. We know that, for a variety of reasons, some students need a coach to help them reach their academic best. Designed for students with executive function challenges, ADHD, ASD, GAD, and other learning differences and/or diagnoses, UCAM promotes self-advocacy, autonomy, and academic achievement. Our coaches work with students in weekly individualized coaching sessions.
The mission of UCAM is to provide supportive and challenging coaching and mentoring for students with a wide variety of learning differences. Focused specifically on the individual student and the student's own goals, UCAM staff help the student develop academic skills, self-efficacy, and an understanding of the unwritten curriculum on their journey to become resilient, self-directed learners. UCAM encourages students to fully integrate into campus life, recognizing that mental and physical health and social connections are integral to their success in college.
Who benefits from UCAM?
All students can benefit from UCAM. Students who have experienced challenges with planning, follow-through, breaking big projects into manageable tasks, determining what's important to study and how to do it often choose to participate. Students can join UCAM whether or not they have a documented learning disability.How does UCAM work?
UCAM is a year-long service that provides a fall new student orientation, a parent orientation, weekly coaching sessions, a professional writing tutor, skill developmental classes, a community study space, and social opportunities. Students report that having their coach to check in with each week makes an enormous difference in their success and ability to handle stress.
UCAM provides weekly, one-on-one coaching sessions, plus follow-up support as needed. UCAM is available to all SOU students and is financial aid eligible. Cost ranges from is $1,750-$3,400/term, depending on number of coaching hours.
Additional services:
- Pre-registration meetings
- New student orientation
- 3-credit course sequence for for first-year students
- Parent orientation
- Professional writing tutor
- Communal study space and lounge
- Referrals to other campus and community resources
- UCAM Peer Mentor
- End-of-term coaching feedback
- Study jams
- Social opportunities
- Coach-guided study sessions
What happens in coaching sessions?
- Meet with the same Academic Coach on a weekly basis
- Set and meet academic and personal goals
- Work on executive functioning skills such as time management, organization, and prioritization
- Track due dates and complete assignments
- Break down larger assignments into more manageable pieces
- Develop effective study skills
- Promote self-advocacy
- Teach stress and anxiety management techniques
- Become familiar with SOU's management systems to determine grades, instructor feedback, schedule advising meetings, lift appropriate holds, track institutional deadlines through the Academic Calendar, and more
Why UCAM?
Students who made regular use of UCAM resources raised their GPA an average of .72 points.
Students in the UCAM persist toward graduation at a 25% higher rate than the general SOU student population.
Testimonials
“Our student has become self-sufficient and capable with the guidance of her UCAM coach. I love that they have an open and caring relationship where she feels safe, grounded, and motivated, even--and especially--when she's having a rough time.”
“UCAM provided that one crucial additional "safety net" for our entire family. The one on one interactions with his coach enhanced our son's ability to navigate the extremely stressful challenges presented during the Pandemic and helped us all stay connected to the SOU community. UCAM is one of the best investments we have made in our son's education. The entire team got to know him as a Freshman and provided him with just the right amount of support to feel confident enough to try new things and to spread his wings for the first time. No such thing as "failures" only opportunities to grow and learn!"
“UCAM has been the life saver for college survival; we've seen massive growth in our son during his two years at SOU and much of this has come from the mentorship of UCAM helping with course selection and planning, learning strategies and writing skills as well as even helping with apartment searching this year!"
“UCAM is an amazing program for students who just need some additional support and coaching in college. The coaches and director genuinely care about the students in the program and truly listen and make connections with them. UCAM made the transition to college so much easier and gave our student a group of students to immediately connect with on campus. I can't say enough positive things about the UCAM program and staff!"
“My husband and I really believe that if our son would have had his coach or a clone of her while he was at his previous college that more progress would have been made. She is so positive in her efforts and support of us and our son, plus she is creative in her ideas and plans for him. She follows through. That is a beautiful thing in our world of parents with a LD son. ”
