Online Student Services
As a WKU student, you will have access to support services designed specifically for online learners! WKU Online Student Services is here to connect you to your available WKU resources. We offer a range of services, including WKU CARES Coaching. You also have access to the Student Resource Portal, which provides one-click access to over 65 resources that are designed to help you succeed!
Online Learning Resources
WKU CARES
Whether you're working toward one of our fully online degrees or enrolled in a single online course, our Online Student Support Coaches are here to offer guidance and support at every stage of your journey. Balancing your education with work and other responsibilities can be challenging, but your Student Support Specialist is always just a call or email away. They are part of our WKU CARES initiative—Coaching for Academic Readiness, Excellence, & Success—and they are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.
WKU CARES strives to create a supportive and empowering environment that nurtures growth and development with proven results. Our statistics show that WKU Online students who interacted with our Online Student Support Coaches were 20% more likely to succeed in courses than other students and made substantial improvements to their GPAs.
A typical coaching session, whether by phone or video chat, lasts 30-45 minutes. During the appointment, you and your Online Student Support Coaches will discuss your strengths, challenges, and academic goals. Together, you’ll explore issues that impact your academic success and identify strategies and resources that can support you in your educational journey.
Common Discussion Topics Include:
- Time management
- Procrastination and prioritization
- Work-life balance and stress management
- Academic skill development
- Online learning strategies
- Goal-setting and motivation
- Identifying and leveraging WKU resources
- (270) 745-3028
- online.success@wku.edu
WKU South Campus
2355 Nashville Rd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1084
Does coaching require a long-term commitment from me?
You can schedule 1 or 2 appointments or plan weekly/monthly appointments.
You can end coaching sessions at any point in the semester. We are here for you when you need us.
Converse with coaches by email, phone, Zoom call, or face to face. Sessions typically last 30-45 minutes.
What you can expect in a coaching session:
- Each coaching session is different and unique to you.
- You and your coach work together to set goals for the session.
- Together, you will craft goals and break them down into achievable parts.
- Your coach will develop strategies for improvement and connect you with WKU resources to support your progress and help you reach your goals.
We meet students where they are—offering guidance, encouragement, and real-time support for academic and personal challenges. You don’t have to do college alone; we’re here to help you move forward with purpose and confidence.
Every student has strengths—and we’re here to help you recognize yours. Through encouragement, goal-setting, and celebrating progress (big or small), we help students believe in their potential and show up with confidence.
Success looks different for everyone, so we focus on what works best for you. Together, we’ll explore practical tools, flexible routines, and learning strategies you can actually use in real life—inside and outside the classroom.
Meet the WKU CARES Coaches:
Program Manager for Online Student Services
- 270-745-3815
- tanya.vincent@wku.edu
- South Campus, Academic Wing C173
"We created WKU CARES to provide comprehensive support to help online learners realize their potential, build confidence, and succeed! Many times, online students do not feel connected to the university. We are changing that one interaction at a time." WKU CARES is proud to have been the winner of the 2023 UPCEA award.
Specialist, Online Student Services & Outreach
- 270-745-3028
- tammy.dorris@wku.edu
- South Campus, Academic Wing C171
Schedule a session with Coach Tammy
Campus Connection: College of Health and Human Services, Graduate Students, WKU F1rst Gen students
Office Hours: 8:30 am– 5:00 pm CST (by appointment, email, Zoom, or by phone)
Coordinator, Online Student Support
- 270-745-2673
- john.schroeder@wku.edu
- South Campus, Academic Wing C169
Schedule a session with Coach John
Campus Connection: Gordon Ford College of Business and Potter College of Arts and Letters
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm CST (by appointment, email, Zoom, or by phone)
Success coaching allows students to actively reflect on their current circumstances and to evaluate strategies that support and/or undermine their academic success. Your coach will always be there for you, lending support and guidance throughout your entire program, and connecting you with resources you need most. We also understand that life changes and sometimes goals need to be adjusted - that's okay! We’re here to help you navigate those changes and map out alternate routes if needed.
Awards & Newsletter
WKU CARES has received the Gold Award in the NASPA Excellence Awards, highlighting
its outstanding commitment to supporting students through innovative programs and
personalized coaching services. This national recognition underscores the impact of
WKU CARES in fostering student success, particularly among off-campus, non-traditional
and military-connected students.
Read more about the award here.
In 2023 WKU was honored with the UPCEA Excellence in Advancing Student Success Award, a national recognition that celebrates our efforts to create meaningful pathways to graduation for adult and nontraditional learners. This award reflects WKU’s ongoing commitment to providing high-impact support, accessible resources, and student-centered experiences that help Hilltoppers thrive—no matter where they are in their educational journey.
Read more about the award here.
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