There was an excellent article in the Wall Street Journal last week on the University of Oregon football staff and their collective approach to coaching. What was the shocking innovation? NO YELLING!
The key takeaway is that they are after the same objectives as other coaches have been seeking since organized sports were invented.
As head coach Mark Helfrich said, “We have excellent specialists in their field, great leaders of young men that need to teach guys what to do, to show them and tell them and find a way to bring that home.”
What the Oregon staff has done is to find a way to keep the old school principles of coaching (effective teaching, hard work, strong team culture) while adjusting their methods based on who their modern-day players are. The approach is smart, simple, and successful.
Similarly, GTG is using time honored principles in academic advising (valuing liberal arts education, primacy of academic work in the student-athlete’s life, development of critical thinking skills) while supporting the merging of career development into the academic advisement process.
Today’s college students want to see a connection between what they are studying and where they are headed with their careers. The assessments we offer are an excellent way to give direction to students and their academic advisors in planning course and major selections. Smart, simple, successful.
The Connection Between Academics Today and Work Tomorrow
• Students feel there is a two-way positive impact when their personal interests and career ambitions are tied into their studies.
• When asked about what gets them to engage in their academic responsibilities, the largest group of respondents (27%) cited interest in the subject as their primary motivator to study, compared to only 9% who cited “getting into a good college”
• 45% of participants reported that they study “much harder” when they perceive a direct connection between their course work and their planned career
• 55% believe that knowing their ideal career path will improve their college performance
Source: https://www.cpp.com/PRESS/PR_iStartStrong_Survey.aspx
