Program Contact Information
Academic Success Coaching
About the Program:
The SUCCESS program at Berkshire Community College (BCC) engages students through academic advising and coaching and takes a case management approach, providing personalized support and wrap-around services to help students meet their individual goals. Advisors, coaches, and support staff engage students with academic planning, development of academic skills, managing commitments, career advising, essential needs, digital skills support, and goal setting. Staff use a case management approach to connect students with additional resources in pursuit of students’ academic goals and foster connections between students, staff, and faculty in order to enhance students’ sense of belonging.
Students are encouraged to join SUCCESS through targeted outreach that follows an opt-out approach. Eligible students may reach out directly for more information and are automatically enrolled unless they request not to join. All SUCCESS students at BCC are supported by the program during their time with BCC until they earn their certificate or degree. By design, some but not all students are aware that they are receiving services through SUCCESS. Other units that support SUCCESS at BCC include Student Engagement, the Disability Resource Center, and the Multicultural Affairs, Diversity, and Engagement Center.
Student Eligibility
Students who are eligible for the SUCCESS program at BCC include:
Cohort Focus Population
In line with the legislative intent to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable student populations, the use of SUCCESS services at BCC among the following populations is actively tracked and encouraged:
Support Services
The following supports are available to SUCCESS students at BCC:
Academic skills workshops
Advising
Career Advising
Case management
Coaching
Community events
Digital skills support
Essential needs counseling
Financial counseling
Four-year college visits
Transfer advising
Support Network
SUCCESS at BCC is supported by a director of advising and coaching, academic counselors who provide advising and coaching support, academic coaches with specialized expertise (disability services, essential needs, and career advising), a coordinator of student diversity programs and belonging, and administrative staff.
SUCCESS receives funding through the Massachusetts legislature and is supported by the 15 state community colleges, the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC), the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), and the SUCCESS Leadership and Coordinating Committees.