New to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln this year, Academic Navigators are available in each college to help students stay on track and find the resources they need to be successful on campus. They help students feel successful, safe and healthy on campus, aid in school struggles, set career goals and get involved.
“We’re here to work closely with students based on what they might need in their individual programs,” said Sara Troupe, academic navigator for the colleges of Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Architecture. “We work alongside the people students are already seeing — like academic advisers and success coaches — but are here to be long-term and follow-up frequently.”
The Academic Navigators are a program through the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, and is in alignment with Nebraska’s N2025 goals to increase undergraduate degree completion and close equity gaps.
Like many Academic Navigators, Troupe is an alumna who’s passionate about helping students. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, and growing up in Fremont, Nebraska, she studied secondary education as a Husker before moving on to teach English at Schoo Middle School.
With her new role as an Academic Navigator, Troupe is excited about the one-on-one engagement opportunities it offers.
“It’s really nice to be able to dig deeper with students about what they’re going through and what can make a meaningful impact,” Troupe said. “Something I found as a student was that I didn’t know about a resource until I went looking for it. There are so many awesome resources all over campus, and we can come in to help mediate the system to get students what they need.”
Students can reach an Academic Navigator by scheduling an appointment through the Student Success Hub or, as is the case with Troupe , just dropping into their office. Any reason is a good reason to check in with a navigator.
“We work with both academics but also just personal, social life — anything that’s causing a hard time or presenting barriers for students,” she said.
And if a navigator can’t help, they’ll introduce you to someone who can.
