Moving away to begin the college journey can be one of the most important, and scariest, moments in a young adult’s life.
The UW Students Success and Graduation Hub, located in the Alumni House, is a collection of individuals and programs dedicated to aiding students to succeed through all of the trials and tribulations of college.
“Students run into many challenges during their first year of college including being overwhelmed by the challenging course load, becoming homesick, and financial struggles,” Cowboy Coach Danielle Ernste said.
Cowboy Coaching is just one of those resources that the Success and Graduation Hub provides to all UW students, especially students in their first years of college.
“Cowboy Coaches give you insights on how to succeed as a college student,” Lutz said. “ And they can help you get a job too, which is so important for life after college.”
Cowboy Coaches have three primary goals for students; Support and prepare students transitioning to college, help students remain in college by utilizing campus resources and guide students in graduating from the university without prolonged delays.
The Cowboy Coaching program pairs younger students with fellow UW upperclassmen, who are experienced with both being a college student and the campus.
Coaches work with anywhere from 70 to over 100 students as mentors, friends, and as a resource.
“I personally work with 65 freshmen, and I have 57 sophomores on my list right now,” Cowboy Coach Erin McDonald said.
Whether a student needs help with studying, is searching for a job, or just wants to participate in campus activities, Cowboy Coaches are there to help.
“Cowboy coaches can help you find ways to get involved on campus that are personalized to your needs and interests,” Ernste said. “I work with a lot of students in STEM majors so typically I am helping students find research opportunities, pointing them in the direction of pre-professional fraternities, finding on-campus jobs, shadowing opportunities, etc.”
The Cowboy Coach program has coaches from every college on campus, ranging from English to Chemical Engineering to Agriculture.
“I think one of the most beneficial things about us is that we’re so diverse,” Cowboy Coach Erin McDonald said. “We have members on our team from every college on campus, at least one, so we pretty much know everything.”
Senior Aaron Barber commented on how Cowboy Coaching would’ve helped him in his first years.
“The transition from high school to college is way bigger than people realize,” Barber said. “So if you don’t have the foundational study skills that are needed prior to starting college you might struggle and that just adds to the stress of college.”
“I think if you’re really struggling with college life, something like Cowboy Coaching would be really helpful,” Barber said.
