Guiding LHRD Students to Graduation through Dual Support Systems

The right support system can make all the difference when completing a degree. At LSU, students in the online Master of Science in Leadership and Human Resource Development (MS LHRD) program receive dedicated guidance from both an LSU Online Student Success Coach and a faculty advisor from the LHRD department. This dual support system ensures that students have the resources, encouragement, and expert advice they need to navigate their academic journey successfully.

Dr. Missy Korduner, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and MS Graduate Programs Coordinator/Academic Advisor, and Dacia Johnson, a Student Success Coach at LSU Online, work closely together to provide a seamless experience for students—from application to graduation. In this spotlight, they share their insights into how they support MS LHRD students, answer common questions, and offer advice for making the most of this flexible online program.

Meet Your Support Team: Dr. Missy Korduner & Dacia Johnson

1. Can you introduce yourselves and explain your role at LSU?

Dacia: My name is Dacia Johnson, and I am a Student Success Coach at LSU Online. My role is to assist students with any questions and/or concerns they may have throughout their attendance at LSU. I regularly check in with students to ensure that they are "in the know" about important deadlines and changes or provide personalized notifications.

Dr. Korduner: My name is Dr. Missy Korduner. I am an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and the MS Graduate Programs Coordinator/Academic Advisor for the LSU School of Leadership and Human Resource Development. As a faculty member, I teach in our undergraduate and graduate programs. As the MS Graduate Programs Coordinator/Academic Advisor, I am directly responsible for overseeing and operating our MS programs and advising our MS graduate students. I often meet with prospective students to discuss the MS in LHRD degree programs and with current students to discuss classes, scheduling, and any challenges that may arise during their enrollment. My ultimate goal is to support each of our students throughout their enrollment to ensure they complete their degree.

2. What excites you most about working with students?

Dacia: What excites me the most about working with students is knowing that I can be of support, and they know that they can reach out to me for any assistance they may need. I also enjoy being the internal support and direct liaison for my students. I provide continuous encouragement and support throughout their journey to obtain their degree at LSU.

Dr. Korduner: I love working with our students in terms of helping them navigate the university landscape, accessing resources they need to be successful, and answering any questions they may have regarding their enrollment and academics. My favorite part of my role is being able to meet individually with our students and personalizing the experience for them. I am always willing to connect one-on-one to help them brainstorm solutions to challenges, advocate on their behalf, and create a course schedule that meets their individual needs. I appreciate being a part of their entire academic experience - supporting and encouraging them during moments of uncertainty, advocating for them when needed, and celebrating them through their successes and when they reach graduation! Through these individual conversations, I also learn more about each student, which is so rewarding to me. I love hearing their stories about who they are - personally and professionally, how they selected our program, why it is important to them, and what they are most excited about as they work toward their degree.

3. What common questions or concerns do you hear from students, and how do you help them navigate these challenges?

Dacia: Common questions or concerns I hear from students are mostly about important deadlines, connecting students to appropriate resources, and helping them navigate resources in their myLSU student portal. I help them navigate their challenges by ensuring that I cover all the bases during our interactions and by sending weekly reminders of important dates and deadlines to ensure they are well-informed.

Dr. Korduner: Some common questions I get are about what to do when a student needs to sit out a module, adjust their schedule, or make changes to the typical academic rotation we provide for students. We have students entering our graduate program immediately from their undergraduate experience to those who have been out of school for years and are returning for a degree later in life. Each student has different needs, and I love sitting down with them to listen to their questions and provide support and guidance as we work together to find solutions. I also field questions about prior learning credits and transfer credits. I regularly review opportunities for potential course credit approval. I like being able to help our large university feel smaller and more personal for our students. I also get a lot of questions about funding opportunities - financial aid, scholarships, assistantships, etc. While LSU Online students aren't eligible for assistantships, I try to offer other suggestions and resources for funding their education. For students who receive funding through their employers, this also involves helping them work within their tuition reimbursement parameters and maximize the funding available each year.

4. How do your respective roles—Student Success Coach and Academic Advisor—complement each other in guiding students through their journey?

Dacia: The academic advisors and I both play a significant role in providing continuous and holistic support to ensure that students reach success throughout their academic journey here at LSU. As a Student Success Coach, it is important to inform students of who they need to speak with regarding their coursework during our initial contact – which would be their advisor, Dr. Missy Korduner, for the master's program. I would say we each collaborate closely to help students not only define their academic goals but also provide continuous support to help them reach their goals. Our collaborative communication addresses academic and non-academic factors that contribute to the overall success of our students.

Dr. Korduner: Dacia and I work closely together to support our LHRD graduate students. We regularly connect via email and phone to keep each other informed about our students and our conversations with them. It is a wonderful partnership supporting all aspects of our students' experience. Dacia works to onboard them to LSU Online, Moodle, and general policies and processes. At the same time, I help them navigate the intricacies of their specific degree requirements and academic classes. We regularly update each other when a student has questions or concerns or is looking for additional support. We also regularly connect students with each other as needed, depending on the student's needs. Between the two of us, I feel like our students receive holistic support across their student experience - both inside and outside the classroom.

5. What does the student journey look like from application to graduation, and where do each of you play the most significant role?

Dacia: The student journey from the application begins with the Enrollment Coaches, who assist students with gathering all the information and documents required for admission. Once students are approved, they are assigned to their Student Success Coach. During the initial conversation with students, I aim to get to know them so that I can understand their background and, of course, inform them of all the important things – for example, recognizing who their academic advisor is, providing information about the program and online general structure, and also assisting them with their myLSU so they understand where to navigate the important tasks to complete throughout their attendance at LSU. We also discuss their academic and career goals during our initial contact so I can better understand their motivations for completing a degree. I believe that each of these topics is significant because they allow the Student Success Coach to help students navigate the complexities of their academic journey and empower them on a personal level from application to graduation.

Dr. Korduner: The student journey may start with a phone call or email from a prospective student interested in learning more about the MS in LHRD and the opportunities available for them. Then, the interested student completes a graduate application for admission. The graduate school and our department review applications to make admission decisions. Throughout this process, the student works with an Enrollment Coach. Once admitted, the student works directly with a Student Success Coach and me as their academic advisor. As stated above, Dacia and I work collaboratively to support each student preparing to start classes. For my role in this, I help students clarify courses they need to take, review Prior Learning Credits or transfer credits for possible course credit, and answer questions about time to graduation, adjustments to the typical course schedule/rotation, etc. Throughout a student's enrollment, I may engage with them in any number of capacities: answering questions via email, meeting virtually to discuss their degree, checking in on students who may need support due to academic challenges or other personal challenges impacting their academics, connecting them to various faculty, and sharing resources at the university available to them as online LSU students. I want each student to know they have an advocate, cheerleader, and resource in me from application to graduation. I am dedicated to helping them achieve their academic goals and reach that graduation milestone.

6. What do you think prospective students should know about the online programs at LSU or the MS in LHRD specifically?

Dacia: Prospective students should know that the programs offered through LSU Online are true online programs with an asynchronous platform that allows students to have a true "learning-life balance" to achieve their academic goals while maintaining their lives and careers outside of academics. The online programs may include pre-recorded lectures, assignments, group projects, and open office hours to meet with their professors. Students should also know that although they are completing their degree online and in different parts of the world, there are still opportunities to network with their peers, career services, and professors.

Dr. Korduner: What I love most about our program is its flexibility. While the program is designed to be completed in one year, we can customize a course rotation plan to meet the needs of just about any student. I get requests from students needing to sit out due to a military deployment, students starting a new job, students who become new parents, etc. We recognize that life happens and a lot is going on for our students beyond them working on a graduate degree. I can work with each student individually to address their specific needs, adjust the course rotation as needed, and create a plan that works for them while still ensuring they continue to progress through degree requirements.

7. What's your favorite piece of advice for current or prospective students to make the most of their time in their programs?

Dacia: My favorite piece of advice for current or prospective students to make the most of their time in their programs would be to have clear goals and take advantage of advising, tutoring, and career centers. They should also consider building relationships with their peers for further networking opportunities.

Dr. Korduner: My favorite advice for students is to focus on their academic journey. No two students have the same life experiences, the exact same needs, or the exact same situation coming into their degree. Your journey is your journey. There is no right or wrong journey - just the one that is yours. It doesn't matter if you struggled as an undergraduate, are making a career change, or are returning after being away from school for 20 years. Each student experience and journey has value, and each is just as exciting and meaningful. There are no comparisons - be proud of your decision to continue your education and focus on completing that degree (and know that Dacia and I will be there with you every step of the way to support, guide, and cheer you on).

Your Success Starts at LSU

The online MS LHRD from LSU is a carefully designed learning experience that prioritizes student success. With the combined support of LSU Online Student Success Coaches and dedicated faculty, students receive the personalized guidance they need to thrive academically and professionally.

Whether you want to gain new skills in human resources, workforce development, or organizational leadership, the 100% online MS in LHRD provides the flexibility and structure to help you achieve your goals—on your terms.

Ready to take the next step? Explore these programs and experience the LSU Online difference today!

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