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Recently, Temple University’s Hope Center released the results of its 2023-2024 Basic Needs Survey, which has responses from over 75,000 college students across 16 states. They found that:
- Over half of students experience either food- or housing-related insecurity
- Nearly ¾ of students lack what they need in the areas of transportation, child care, technology access, or mental health support
- Nearly 80% of students who are struggling to complete college cite basic needs issues
- Historically marginalized populations are often heavily impacted by a lack of one or more basic needs, contributing to lower rates of persistence and completion
Brain research has established that in its quest to help a person survive, the brain will prioritize threat and need over analytical, frontal cortex operation – in other words, not getting what you need affects your ability to learn in a college setting. In the sixth edition of his text How the Brain Learns (Corwin, 2022), author David Sousa describes it clearly: “Any input that is of higher priority diminishes the processing of data of lower priority. The brain’s main job is to help its owner survive. Thus, it will process immediately any data that past experience interprets as posing a threat to the survival of the individual… Emotional data also take high priority. When an individual responds emotionally to a situation, the older limbic system (stimulated by the amygdala) takes a major role, and the complex cognitive processes are suspended…before students will turn their attention to cognitive learning (the curriculum), they must feel physically safe and emotionally secure in the school environment.”
Although they can’t wave a magic wand and change student circumstances, coaches are in a position to help. Coaches can:
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Be clear and intentional about welcoming the whole person in a safe and nonjudgmental space. Students might be more likely to share sensitive information with a coach they trust. Having the information on the table gives the coach more ability to target the conversation effectively.
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Be ready to share details about resources available at your institution. When needs go beyond the appropriate boundaries of what a coach can address, other resources can step in. A student who is receptive to you as a person may be also receptive to what you share about separate resources, and may be more likely to follow up on it.
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Use coaching questions that invite the student to prioritize and self advocate. You might ask, what issue is most important to solve today, this week? What could be your first step and when can you take it? If managing personal issues is taking a lot of time, what are the most important academic tasks you can accomplish in your limited time? What kind of support could your professors provide, and how might you approach them?
Empower yourself to more effectively empower students in all circumstances by expanding your skills at an upcoming LifeBound training.
In these challenging times, LifeBound’s coaching training equips faculty, staff, and academic coaches with the skills to help students navigate obstacles, develop adaptability, and take proactive steps toward meaningful solutions.
Fostering a growth mindset approach, LifeBound coaching training also helps students reframe challenges, find new solutions, and build the resilience needed to stay on track.
Addressing immediate student needs through coaching also builds career readiness. The same skills that help students manage their current struggles—problem-solving, initiative, and self-advocacy—are exactly what employers seek in new hires. LifeBound is the only academic coaching training that bridges this gap, ensuring that students are not only supported through college but also prepared to secure meaningful employment and build financial stability after graduation.
Your coaching skills are one of the most powerful ways to help students navigate these difficult times.
If you’re ready to make more of an impact, join the next live, three-day LifeBound training on March 14, 21, and 28, or start the self-paced 15-hour course anytime to begin equipping students (and yourself) with these powerful skills.
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