Accepting Applications on a Rolling Basis
Are you a First-Generation graduate student in SOLES, the Kroc School of Peace Studies or the Knauss School of Business? Do you feel like you could benefit from additional support to reach your fullest potential as a student and leader? The Catalyst Coaching Initiative is a resource created to support First-Generation graduate students through helping identify and address their unique goals and challenges. Coaching sessions focus on goal-setting around personal, academic, and professional development, as well as what may be getting in the way of achieving these goals and what additional support is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Any graduate student in SOLES, Kroc School of Peace Studies or Knauss School of Business who self-identifies as a first-generation student is eligible to apply for coaching. As there are a limited number of spaces available, it is possible that not all applicants will be chosen to participate.
CATALYST will run through the academic year, with applications accepted on a rolling basis. The length of the coaching arrangement and the total number of sessions to be offered will be agreed upon between coach and client. Please note: Sessions may not extend beyond the academic year in which they begin. While scheduling will be determined between each coach and client, coaching sessions are generally scheduled twice a month for around 45-60 minutes per session.
All coaches have a certificate in Leadership Coaching from USD. The Leadership Coaching Certificate Program is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and is a Board Certified Coach (BCC) approved coach training program.
There is no fee associated with coaching sessions offered through CATALYST.
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
While therapy primarily looks at and examines past experiences, coaching stays more focused on the present and future, incorporating the past only as a means to consider trends and patterns of behavior that may be getting in the way of you moving toward your goals.
In addition, a coach cannot provide diagnosis or treatment plans. Instead, the goal of coaching is to provide a co-creative partnership that challenges you to assess your own roadblocks and choose the best path forward.
The approach for mentoring is often to provide information, insight or expertise on how to approach or fix a particular issue. Coaching, on the other hand, helps you identify and address your own challenges while offering observations, thoughtful questioning and accountability.
Need more information?
Please email us at nonprofit@sandiego.edu or call (619) 260-7443.