Sinclair’s S.O.A.R. program (short for Student Outreach and Academic Resilience) is a resource available to all Sinclair students that helps students navigate college and work toward their academic and career goals through guidance and personalized coaching. The only qualifications to become a S.O.A.R. student are to be a Sinclair student with at least two semesters left before graduation.
The program director Michelle Littlejohn and student success coach Andre Roldan shared with the Clarion what S.O.A.R. is all about and what it has to offer students. The main goal of the program is to build community and academic growth, as well as personal and professional development.
“We have our own space, so [if students] join the program, they have the opportunity to come and have a space to study, to hang out, [and] to connect with other students here on campus.” Littlejohn said.
One of the main services provided to students is coaching, which means guiding them along their journey and helping them to achieve their goals at Sinclair and beyond if they decide to transition to a four-year college or into their career field. The coaching is highly individualized and personalized in order to be tailored to each student’s specific personal and professional growth.
This includes aiding students in finding a mentor in their field of interest, helping them determine the next part of their journey after Sinclair, and connecting them with the resources they need to overcome any barriers, both academic and non academic, that are keeping them from being successful.
“We really try to hone in and get to know our students. We have an intake coaching session with them, and we get to learn who they are as people, what their goals are, what their aspirations are…we really try to make sure that they do become the best version of themselves, not just that they graduate from Sinclair.” Roldan said.
While the main focus of S.O.A.R. is Sinclair college students, there is also a high school side that works with seniors in Dayton Public Schools and other local schools. It provides a college readiness curriculum that helps students who are planning to attend Sinclair after graduating high school, or who are undecided about their next step.
Other things that S.O.A.R. does are college tours and campus visits to other schools, as well as yearly cultural experience trips to expose students to a different city, as well as different arts, plays, museums, and other things of that nature.
“We try to make sure our students are well rounded once they leave Sinclair.” Roldan said.
S.O.A.R. has had a big impact on students, helping students to identify their true calling as well as the support they need to follow that path. Some students will have started majoring in one thing while being unsure if it’s right for them, but by walking and talking it through with them the program helps the students find what they are truly passionate about and turn that corner.
Another positive impact the program has had on students is improved grades as well as increased retention rates over time compared to non S.O.A.R. students.
Littlejohn said that it’s because once students join the program and begin connecting it builds their resilience and encourages them to push through even when they fail, and this empowers the students to find their pathway to success.
S.O.A.R. has orientation every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Building 8 Room 2027 and anyone who feels that the program could be beneficial to them is more than welcome to come check it out.
Whether it’s academic troubles, career uncertainty, health issues or general stress, everyone needs support in their lives, and S.O.A.R. is ready to provide it to the students who need it.
“A lot of students who come to Sinclair, they’re transient because you know we’re a community college. But we’ve heard students say that it makes them feel like they’re getting a college experience because they’ve learned to build a community and make friends, versus just coming to campus, going to class, and then leaving, because it truly is a community.” Littlejohn said.
Eri Larson, reporter
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