FWS Student Coach - Spring 2025

Position Summary:

The Student Coach in the Physiology and Health Department will provide individualized nontherapeutic guidance and support to students helping them manage academic personal and emotional challenges. The Student Coach will use active listening empathy and openended questions to help students explore their goals and develop actionable strategies for success. This role supplements traditional academic advising by focusing on the holistic wellbeing of students ensuring they receive wellrounded support.

Students this Position Appeals to:

This position would appeal to students in the BA in Ayurveda Wellness and Integrative Health major as well as those who are taking the Life and Wellness coaching track specialization or minor.

Experience Gained / Advantages for Student:

1. Development of Leadership and Communication Skills

• Experience Gained: As a Student Coach students will enhance their leadership abilities by guiding peers through challenges using active listening and empathy. They will also develop advanced communication skills learning how to ask openended questions that promote reflection and personal growth.
• Advantage: These skills are highly transferable to careers in counseling coaching management and leadership roles across various industries where interpersonal and communication skills are critical for success.

2. Experience in NonTherapeutic Counseling and Support

• Experience Gained: Student Coaches will gain handson experience in offering nontherapeutic emotional and academic support. This experience is valuable for those interested in careers such as life coaching health and wellness coaching human resources and student affairs where helping others navigate challenges is a central focus.
• Advantage: This practical experience is a strong addition to rsums and can open up job opportunities in education healthcare human services and wellness fields.

3.Enhanced ProblemSolving and Resource Management Skills

• Experience Gained: Student Coaches will develop strong problemsolving skills as they assist peers in navigating academic emotional and personal issues. They will also become familiar with campus resources and learn how to connect others to the appropriate support services.
• Advantage: These skills are directly applicable to roles in student support services academic advising healthcare administration and project management where resource navigation and problemsolving are key to success.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Active Listening and Empathy

• Provide oneonone guidance sessions to students who need a safe space to talk about their academic personal or social goals and challenges.
• Engage in active listening by focusing on the students narrative without judgment demonstrating empathy and validating their experiences.
• The goal is to make students feel heard understood and supported in a way that encourages personal reflection and growth.

2. Facilitating ThoughtProvoking Conversations

• Guide students toward deeper selfreflection and understanding of their challenges by asking openended thoughtprovoking questions.
• Utilize coaching techniques to ask meaningful openended questions that encourage students to think critically about their situations.
• Ask questions that invite exploration of options strengths and potential solutions while keeping the student empowered to decide their path forward.

3. ProblemSolving and Resource Navigation

• Assist students in identifying challenges and resources helping them develop personalized action plans to address academic or personal issues.
• Work with students to define their concerns break down complex problems and explore available campus resources (e.g. counseling tutoring academic advising student organizations) that match their unique needs.
• Empower students to make informed decisions and take practical steps toward resolving their concerns.

4. NonAcademic Support

• Offer holistic nontherapeutic emotional support by providing a consistent compassionate space for students to express concerns that dont directly relate to one particular course or academic subject.
• Serve as a trusted support person focusing on the students overall wellbeing rather than just course performance.
• Encourage students to express concerns related to workload life balance motivation or other personal challenges and help them create strategies for maintaining their wellbeing.

5. Student Advocacy and Support

• Serve as a liaison between students and relevant campus departments to ensure that student concerns issues and needs are heard and addressed.
• Provide guidance on accessing resources such as financial aid counseling services and academic support.

6. Collaboration and Referral

• Collaborate with campus support services and departments to connect students with the appropriate resources for their specific needs.
• Be knowledgeable about universitywide resources (counseling academic support technical support) and build relationships with other departments.
• Provide appropriate referrals while maintaining followup communication to ensure the students needs are being met if a students needs extend beyond the scope of the coachs support.
  
  

Job Qualifications:

Location:Online via email Teams Zoom and Canvas

Supervisor:Natasha Durand Director of the Online BA in Ayurveda Wellness & Integrative Health at MIU

With a background in program development academic leadership and Ayurvedic wellness education Natasha has dedicated her career to promoting holistic health and wellbeing. She holds an MS in Maharishi AyurVeda & Integrative Medicine and is currently pursuing a PhD in Physiology and Health allowing her to integrate modern health practices with consciousnessbased education. Her experience also includes leadership roles in the military where she developed strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Natasha is passionate about fostering inclusive learning environments and supporting students in their personal and academic development. She continues to lead and design curricula that equip students with practical skills in wellness coaching and holistic health practices.

ONLY STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL WORKSTUDY (FWS) MAY APPLY