This fall, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) welcomed its largest freshman class in history. As these students transition to college, CMU is ensuring that its 1,751 freshmen who graduated from a Colorado high school in 2024 have the support of an education and career coach through Opportunity Next. Enacted by SB23-205, and overseen by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Opportunity Next makes coaching available to all Colorado Class of 2024 high school graduates.  

“We know that the earlier we engage students with coaching, the better the outcomes,” shared Kim Medina, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at CMU. “We jumped at the opportunity to provide coaching to our students through Opportunity Next.”

Coaching is particularly crucial as students start a new academic year. Students may be living away from home for the first time while balancing academics, extracurriculars, work, and social life. They may face financial challenges or need help acclimating to college-level coursework or a new environment. Coaches can support students in this transition by helping them clarify their goals, manage time commitments, explore career interests, and overcome bumps along the way. Students can work with coaches to discuss their academics, career plans, finances, school community, and more. 

As an Opportunity Next scholarship administrator, CMU has deepened its commitment to student success by providing coaching to students as a complimentary resource. The university has paired coaching with its one-stop service and advising center, Integrated Resources for Information and Solutions (IRIS). Additionally, CMU advisors introduced Opportunity Next coaching during the first week of classes by email, letting students know they can meet with a virtual coach free of cost. 

Through this coaching partnership, CMU hopes to support student success and retention. “Almost half of our students are the first in their families to attend college, and we are always looking for ways we can support students through graduation,” Kim Medina noted. 

CMU students are already engaging with Opportunity Next coaches to troubleshoot challenges they may be facing — setting up their first sessions by phone or text. Opportunity Next coaches are trained by InsideTrack, a nonprofit that has served more than 3.5 million learners and 380 partners since 2001. Coaches are trained to assess students’ motivations and barriers, support them in connecting to resources and developing critical knowledge, skills, and beliefs, and ultimately empower students to take actionable steps toward their educational and career goals. The coaches bring diverse perspectives, from lived experiences as first-generation college students themselves to backgrounds teaching in secondary and higher education. 

“Opportunity Next coaching aligns with Colorado Mesa University’s goals for student success and retention,” Kim Medina concluded. “The free, expert coaching supports students through the first stage of their educational journey, enhancing their chances of success and ensuring they choose the right fit for their skills and interests.”

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If you’re a Colorado institution looking to bring free coaching to your Colorado Class of 2024 high school and GED graduates, reach out to info@opportunitynext.org.