Standing with higher ed: How we support institutions through uncertain times

Coaching colleges and universities through change, challenge and opportunity

Higher education is facing a moment of profound change. New policies, shifting budgetary landscapes and growing uncertainty are making it harder for institutions to plan for the future while staying true to their mission. Executive orders and legislation related to federal funding, resource allocation and student support could have powerful and disruptive implications. The value of higher education continues to be questioned, and institutions across the country are facing challenges to academic freedoms, civil rights and financial resources. All of this may hinder the ability for institutions to support all the students they serve — either through direct regulation or through an overall chilling effect that slows or stalls programming.

Throughout these times, we see you. We hear you. And we’re with you.

At InsideTrack, we don’t just work with higher ed institutions — we stand beside them. We are a nonprofit organization driven by a commitment to student success and institutional resilience. We believe in the power of education to transform lives and in the ability of institutions to navigate complexity while staying true to their mission. Coaching is how we open the door to opportunity. It’s how we help students stay on track, how we empower institutions to move forward in times of uncertainty, and how we ensure that no one — neither students nor staff — has to go it alone.

While new policies and guidance are still evolving, we recognize that institutions are seeking clarity and proactive solutions. We believe that the work of supporting students and ensuring institutional stability will remain critical, no matter what changes come next. And we share a desire to bolster higher ed and to minimize the negative impact these changes will have on the learners you serve, as well as their families and communities.

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Coaching offers a steady hand in uncertain times

In challenging moments, what students and institutions need most is connection. That’s what coaching provides.

Coaching is more than support — it’s a relationship built on trust, empathy and action. It’s a way to help students feel seen and heard while giving them the tools to move forward with confidence. And for institutions, coaching is a flexible, proven solution to help staff manage change while continuing to provide high-quality support to students.

Through coaching, we:

• Meet students where they are, providing personalized guidance tailored to their unique needs. Whether they’re struggling academically, facing personal challenges or unsure about their next steps, coaching helps students navigate their journey with confidence and achieve their academic and career goals.‍
• Offer a safe, judgment-free space for students to express concerns, ask questions and find clarity. When students feel heard, they’re more likely to engage, persist and succeed.‍
• Act as a bridge to resources, ensuring students get the support they need — academically, emotionally and financially. From tutoring to financial aid guidance, coaching helps students access the right tools at the right time.‍
• Free up staff capacity, so internal teams can focus on long-term strategies while knowing students are still being cared for. Coaching expands institutional reach, providing high-touch support without overburdening existing teams.‍
• Equip institutional teams with coaching-based training, helping staff strengthen their support skills and connect more deeply with students. Training empowers faculty and staff to integrate coaching techniques into their daily interactions, creating a culture of student-centered support.

The future may feel uncertain, but two constants remain: students need support and institutions need solutions. We’re here to help — and here’s how. 

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1. Centering on career readiness right from the start

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Students don’t just enroll in higher education for the experience — they enroll because they have a vision for their future. And the importance of focusing on viable career pathways extends beyond just a four-year degree. Since the demand for flexible education and credentialing pathways continues to grow, institutions need to figure out offerings that align with this future state of education — with programs that can cater to adult learners and individuals looking to upskill or reskill in their job field. In order to do so, schools need to focus on career and tracking career outcomes from Day One with all of their students.

The challenge: More than ever, students (and their families) want to know how their education connects to their future careers. Institutions are being asked to not only educate but also provide clear pathways to workforce success. As institutions continue to shape programs that prepare students for evolving workforce demands, career readiness must remain a central part of the student journey.

Where we can help:

• Supporting students to have strong career readiness. Making career readiness part of everyday  student support helps learners at every stage of their education process — from enrolling in the right program and feeling like they’re where they belong to feeling invigorated by and confident in the pathway they’ve chosen. ‍
• Connecting students to their “why” for pursuing education. We help institutions make sure their students are equipped to discuss and navigate their educational journey as it pertains to their ultimate career and economic goals. As institutions focus on career pathways, it’s imperative that the student support keeps up. Coaches help students clarify their career goals, identify strengths and build confidence in their chosen path. ‍
• Providing support for individuals looking to upskill and reskill in their careers. Coaching provides guidance for working adults and career changers navigating professional growth and transition. We work with all different types of institutions and programs (including continuing ed, professional, online programs and employers) to help students enroll in and attain credentials that directly apply to their field or the field they plan to enter.‍
• Focusing on employable skills and career confidence, setting students up for long-term success. Career coaching helps students foster the critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills required by today’s employers. It also helps them better advocate for themselves, advance toward their career goals and build agency to seek support from their programs or employers. Even more importantly, the skills they develop serve them long after coaching is over – this is the true root of our mission, helping fuel social and economic mobility for our learners.

We know that education is about more than just completing a degree — it’s about what comes next. And in today’s environment, connecting education to employability is only becoming more critical. Coaching helps students connect their academic journey with their career aspirations, so they graduate not just with credentials, but with an actionable plan for long-term success. 

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‍Helpful resources for integrating career readiness into student support:

• Blog: How quality coaching helps learners connect education pathways to career success
• Partner Profile: SkillUp: Group career coaching connects workers to the tools they need to upskill
• Learner Story: Meet Nailah: How one determined doctorate bridged school, work and life with help from her coach
• Blog: Focus on career readiness to help enroll and retain students
• Learner Story: Meet Brandon: Rippling change through his community
• Learner Story: Meet Ryan and his coach Emilia: A challenging path to career success — and the coach who helped get him there

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2. Prioritizing student success — even when the landscape shifts

Supporting students to accomplish their goals and advance toward meaningful careers has always been the heart of higher education. But with shifting policies and funding changes, institutions may be asked to rethink how they approach various student success initiatives. As priorities evolve, it’s critical to have a partner that will help ensure students continue to receive the guidance and support they need to persist and thrive.

The challenge: As institutions adapt to new policies and funding changes, student success initiatives will likely need to adapt, too. That can leave students — and staff — feeling uncertain about what’s next.

Where we can help:

• Providing direct success coaching to help students build confidence, resilience and persistence. Holistic, personalized coaching helps students develop essential skills such as goal-setting, time management and self-advocacy, preventing stopouts and leading to higher retention and completion rates. By building their knowledge, skills and beliefs, students are more likely to persist and stay on track toward achieving their goals.‍
• Alleviating pressure on staff by handling student outreach and support. Coaching teams engage with students regularly, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks while allowing faculty and staff to focus on strategic initiatives.‍
• Helping institutions maintain high-touch student support, even as strategies evolve. Whether scaling services or adjusting to policy changes, coaching ensures students receive the right support at the right time.‍
• Delivering insights into student pain points and barriers. Through countless one-on-one interactions, coaches collect valuable information on any system-related issues students might be having. Using this data we are able to provide customized reports, recommendations and insights into learner challenges.‍
• Creating a culture of support via coaching development and training programs. Teams may currently feel stretched thin, overwhelmed by change and stressed about supporting students who are also feeling overwhelmed. Coaching development and training equips campus staff with coaching techniques that enhance advising, mentoring and student engagement strategies, while improving student outcomes.‍
• Building consistency by training staff from all student-facing departments — not just advisors. Embedding holistic coaching skills across departments ensures that staff in advising, admissions, financial aid, student life, career services and other student-facing departments all speak the same support language, making sure student interactions are clear and effective.‍
• Tapping into support from our Crisis Support Services (CSS) team. When one of our coaches comes across a learner struggling with a potentially serious situation — such as safety, food and housing insecurity, financial issues or emotional distress — they can escalate that learner’s situation to our CSS team. These specially trained members of our team can connect the student with campus and community resources, providing additional support via Emergency Support Microgrants as needed.

Success coaching is proven to work for all students. It is uniquely personalized and tailored to what the student is experiencing, at that moment. It’s all about helping students gain the knowledge, skills and beliefs they need to succeed. This includes making sure they are heard, their concerns are validated, they have clear pathways to their goals, and helping them connect to the resources they need. And it’s all individualized to each student receiving coaching. 

At the end of the day, we know that every institution’s goal is to help all students succeed. That’s our goal too.

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Helpful resources for prioritizing student success:

• Report: From Crisis to Resilience: Addressing trauma and toxic stress in workforce development and education systems
• Case Study: How the University of Utah’s student success revamp improved retention for underserved students
• Partner Profile: Peirce College: Philadelphia PBI undergoes coaching certification to strengthen retention
• Report: Empowering Teams, Transforming Outcomes: A guide to building a holistic in-house student support 
• Blog: How does coaching help cultivate a learner’s sense of belonging?
• Blog: Maximizing the transformative power of coaching with development and training

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3. Keeping enrollment strong amid uncertainty

Enrollment has always been a cornerstone of institutional stability, but today’s landscape brings new challenges. With shifting demographics, policy changes and growing concerns about the value of higher education, institutions need fresh ways to connect with prospective students — and re-engage those who have stepped away.

The challenge: With demographic shifts and policy changes, institutions must find new ways to reach and support prospective students. At the same time, re-engaging stopped-out students is more critical than ever.

Where we can help:

• Employing enrollment coaching that helps prospective students find the right path for them. Coaching guides students through decision-making, ensuring they select programs that align with their career goals and life circumstances. It also helps them connect to their “why” — their reason for enrolling in college, establishing a firm direction right from the start.‍
• Providing personalized student support for seamless enrollment and onboarding. We support institutions to maintain strong enrollment. And we also make sure each student is set up for success once they get to school. Enrollment coaching can alleviate the bandwidth of enrollment/advising staff and directly integrate with institutional communications and supports, acting as an arm of the school itself. ‍
• Strategically outreaching to stopped-out students, helping them reconnect with their education and future goals. Personalized re-enrollment coaching includes outreach campaigns to re-engage students who have paused their education, offering the support and encouragement they need to return. Directly supporting stopped-out students to come back to school helps institutions reach enrollment numbers and make sure they’re keeping the interest of their students at heart.‍
• Building a bridge for stopped-out learners to return. Coaching can be a solid point of connection between a student and an institution, which can be highly beneficial for students who feel their relationship with the school has been strained for any number of reasons. Coaches are there to remind them that their school genuinely cares about the progress and wants them to succeed.‍
• Addressing the “Some College, No Credential” crisis on a broad scale. More than 40 million adults in the United States have some college but no certificate or degree. Supporting this population is critical — for the students themselves, for institutions and for states who are looking to achieve attainment goals and fuel economic mobility for their communities. We help schools and statewide systems do just that.

Enrollment is about more than filling seats — it’s about ensuring that students find the right fit, feel confident in their choice, and have the support they need to thrive. That’s where coaching makes a difference.

And just like retention coaching, our direct enrollment coaching programs are designed to support all student populations. We recognize the diverse nature of today's student population and are committed to providing personalized guidance to individuals of all ages, abilities, races, ethnicities, geographic locations, military and familial statuses, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

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Helpful resources for enrolling prospective students and re-engaging stopouts:

• Report: Reconnect, Re-enoll & Rise: Five imperatives to help community colleges enroll stopped-out students
• Blog: Actionable checklists to help enroll prospective students
• Partner Profile: NC Reconnect: Re-enrollment coaching gives stopped-out learners the tools to return to college and complete their degrees
• Web Page: Innovative Reconnect Initiatives help learners re-enroll and complete
• Learner Story: Meet Derek: The multi-generational impact of an adult learner’s journey back to school
• Webinar: Coach Roundtable On-Demand Webinar: Enrollment insights and best practices

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We’re here to support you

No matter how policies shift, how funding models change or how uncertain the future feels — one thing stays the same: Our commitment to higher education.

We do this work for the same reasons you do. Because we believe in students. Because we believe in the power of education to transform lives. Because we know that even in the hardest moments, institutions like yours are doing everything possible to support learners. You don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here to work with you, to support you and to stand beside you.

‍Let’s move forward — together.