Academic Coaching

Individualized, One-on-one Support

Academic coaching can be an effective tool for students transitioning to the college environment, as well as those wanting to maintain a healthy approach to college throughout their time at SMU. As part of its Success Strategies program, DASS offers undergraduate students with ADD/ADHD, learning differences, and students on the autism spectrum one-on-one academic coaching meetings with a Learning Specialist in order to address issues such as time management, organization, reading challenges, goal setting, and self-advocacy.

One important component of academic coaching is creating and maintaining structure. This can be a challenge for someone with executive functioning challenges, as well as recent high school graduates who have not had to navigate an unstructured environment. DASS can help a student identify what areas to work on and execute a realistic plan to address each of them. Being able to follow-up regularly with the DASS Learning Specialist makes the plan more likely to stick and increase confidence in the student's own abilities. 

Academic coaching can help

  • Break tasks down into manageable parts and set realistic goals to complete them

  • Identify study skills that might be more effective based on the student's learning style

  • Address issues of reluctance regarding medication, talking to professors, and studying in the library

  • Identify strategies for starting on projects, as well as following through

  • Cope with shame or guilt from past disappointments

  • Increase self-awareness that can lead to more effective self-monitoring and self-advocacy

  • Create healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits to stay balanced

 

Schedule an Appointment

Current graduate and undergraduate students looking for more information can phone us at 214-768-1470 or email dass@smu.edu. To schedule an appointment to discuss academic coaching with a DASS staff member, use DASS Link.

Prepare for Your Appointment

In order to provide you with the most effective services, please bring the following materials to your initial session: 

  • Your laptop, in order to access your ÃÛÌÒ½´course schedule and course syllabi;

  • A list of any ongoing commitments you may have that impact your schedule (e.g., jobs, organizations, sports, etc.); and

  • Your calendar/planner (if you currently use one).