Frequently Asked Questions

OMD Coaching

OMD COACHING

frequently asked questions

One Million Degrees scholar sessions, keynote speakers and opportunity fair at Roosevelt University, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (Photo by J.Geil/Chicago PhotoPress)

Coaches are required to attend two hours of live virtual training prior to the start of the academic year. They are also required to attend at least one 90-minute DEIA workshop or complete an asynchronous module.  

Coaches are then expected to attend OMD coaching sessions during the academic year (October – May). Drop-in coaches must participate in at least four sessions a year, while matched coaches are expected to attend one every month (not missing more than two). These sessions are hosted on designated Saturdays either virtually or in-person at the coach’s preferred campus. Both drop-in and matched coaches should expect to spend around 90 minutes at each monthly session.  

In addition, matched coaches are expected to check-in with their scholar at least once per month outside of the in-person meeting. This check-in can be done in-person, by phone, video chat, or by email. Coaches and scholars decide together on the preferred frequency and mode of communication, but at least one check-in per month is required.  

We ask all coaches to submit a monthly activity report to OMD staff regarding their coaching experience. This generally takes no more than 10 minutes. 

OMD is planning for a mix of in-person and virtual (on Zoom) programming during the 2023-2024 academic year. Coaches will be assigned to a specific campus program, and in-person coaching sessions take place at that location throughout the year. Please note One Million Degrees’ eight program locations for the 2023-2024 academic year. Coaches rank their first and second location preferences on the coach application. OMD Staff aims to place each coach at his or her first preference location, and will notify an applicant if their first preference is no longer available.

Coaching sessions cover a diverse range of topics including (but not limited to): resume development, cultural norms in the workplace and classroom, elevator pitches, goal setting, professional etiquette, community engagement, leadership, and financial literacy. 

Only matched coaches are paired directly with scholars as part of our matching process. One Million Degrees staff match scholars and coaches based on a variety of criteria including: age, education, personal background, industry, hobbies, and interests. Whenever possible, coach – scholar matches and coaching groups will be kept the same from year-to-year. 

OMD Coaches are paired with a co-coach and each coach is matched with 1–3 primary scholars, creating a small coaching group. Groups come together at OMD’s monthly coaching sessions and can meet as a group outside of the sessions. Group coaching allows for diverse perspectives in approaching challenges and goals and enables scholars to make meaningful connections with multiple coaches and fellow scholars. 

For matched coaches: 

We understand that people have work, travel, and family commitments; however, we ask coaches to prioritize attendance at the monthly in-person (or virtual) sessions. Matched coaches are not allowed to miss more than two in-person coaching sessions (or virtual coach meetings), unless their scholars are not able to attend the session. When an absence is necessary we ask that coaches contact both their scholar(s) and co-coach as soon as possible. Furthermore, coaches who must miss a coaching session should arrange an alternate in-person (or virtual) meeting with their scholar(s) to help them stay on track with career objectives and program goals. 

If you’re unsure about your ability to attend this many Saturday sessions, then our drop-in coaching option may be for you! Drop-in coaches can choose which sessions they would like to attend throughout the year, assuming they attend a minimum of four sessions.

One Million Degrees runs a variety of one-time volunteer opportunities throughout the year: Professional Roundtables, Interview Prep Workshops, Speed Networking Nights, etc.  See Other Volunteer Opportunities to learn about more ways to get involved with One Million Degrees.

Coaches will receive training prior to the first coaching session, and will be given a coaching toolkit that includes tips for working with scholars as well as guides and templates for the career objectives such as resume, cover letter, and elevator pitch. Coaches will also have access to the OMD Coach Portal, an online one-stop shop for all things coaching. Coach Community Circles will be run before most Saturday coaching sessions and allow for continued training, networking, and sharing of best practices. In addition, OMD Staff is available to troubleshoot issues and concerns and can help coaches navigate challenges.

While applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are currently closed, we encourage you to express your interest by filling out our brief Coach Interest Form. This ensures you’ll be among the first to be notified when applications reopen in Spring 2024, and we’ll guide you through the process.