What is an Academic Coaching?

An academic coach helps students identify academic and learning goals that will maximize opportunities for success and help students achieve college, personal and professional goals. Students partner with a professional academic coach to develop the student’s full academic potential. Through a collaborative process, students identify their learning strengths and build on those strengths for success at Penn State. 

Academic Coaches can assist with the following : 

  • Time management and organizational skills
  • Goal setting 
  • Improving memory 
  • Methods for note taking
  • Motivation and overcoming procrastination 
  • Exam preparation, managing test and academic anxiety
  • Active reading strategies 
  • General study skills/strategies

To provide the greatest opportunity for success, it’s best if students visit early in the semester to have enough time to complete a self-assessment process and develop and implement an Academic Coaching plan that can be applied throughout the semester. 

Additional information about study skills is available from the following websites:

Appointments for Academic Coaching

To schedule an appointment, visit the Learning Center in the lower level of the SLC Building or contact:

  • Eileen Giovagnoli, Associate Director of Learning and Disability Services,
    Hawk Student Success Center, Study Learning Center, Office 21
    Email: [email protected] 
  • Matthew Smith, Disability and Learning Services Specialist,
    Study Learning Center, Office 13
    Email: [email protected]

Contact the Learning Center

  • Phone: 570-963-2678
  • Hawk Student Success Center, Room 11 in The Study Learning Center
  • Learning Center Staff