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DIVISION III EDUCATION SESSION:
INTEGRATING ATHLETICS AND
STRENGTHENING THE FAR’S ROLE
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Session Agenda
• Demonstrate programs promoting successful
integration on three separate Division III
campuses (20 minutes each).
• Questions for the panelists.
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ACADEMIC GAME PLAN
&
DIII WEEK ACTIVITIES
Dr. Jennifer Bueche, FAR
Faculty Athletics Representative
Ryan Hooper
Associate Athletic Director
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SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, New York
State Institution
Undergraduate Enrollment = 5,700
Primary Conference = SUNYAC
Sports Sponsored = 19
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Key Points: The Take-Home Message
________________________________________________________
Division III Athletics a win-win for SUNY Oneonta and the student-athlete:
Academics First.
FAR valued, highly respected, active and visible on campus.
Student-Athletes are held accountable to mission of Athletics Department.
Communication/Partnership between Athletics Department,
Faculty and Student-Athletes is critical to success of
student-athletes.
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Mission Statement
_________________________________________________________
BEGINS WITH STUDENT-ATHLETE ORIENTATION : YOUR MISSION IF YOU CHOOSE
TO BE A SUNY ONEONTA STUDENT-ATHLETE…………
“The mission of the Department of Athletics is to develop exemplary scholar-athletes:
individuals who strive for competitive excellence, academic achievement, and a
commitment to service. Intercollegiate athletics is sponsored as an educationally
purposeful activity which embraces and instills positive ideals. The principles of excellence,
integrity, good sportsmanship, and competition guide student-athletes and department
members in their efforts to represent themselves, the Athletic Department, and the College
at all times.”
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Academic Game Plan
_________________________________________________________
 FAR – first year in review AY 2010.
 Development of AGP with input from AD, AAD, Coaches,
Faculty Mentors, IAB and SAAC.
 Maximize college resources.
 Implemented AY 2011, Revised AY 2013.
(Refer to AGP and College Resource Guide Handouts)
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Benefits of Academic Game Plan
________________________________________________________
 Conversation starter.
 Culture change.
 Holds Student-Athlete accountable.
 Maximizes use of college resources.
 Identified major factors affecting Student-Athlete’s academic performance (Time
Management, Study Skills, Distractions).
 Strengthen Communication/Partnership between Athletics Department, Faculty
and Student-Athletes.
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Division III: A win-win for SUNY Oneonta
_________________________________________________________
Academics-> Winning College Experience -> Winning Season
Priorities & Evidence – A Focus on Academics
 Academics come first – Here’s a Glimpse…..
• GPA
o Fall 2014/Spring 2015 for Student-Athletes 3.11 vs 3.0 nonAthletes.
o Academic Game Plan in place for all student-athletes <3.0 GPA.
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Division III: A win-win for SUNY Oneonta
_________________________________________________________
Academics-> Winning College Experience -> Winning Season
Priorities & Evidence – A Focus on Academics
 Academics come first – Here’s a Glimpse…..
• Awards
o 198 Student-Athletes recognized SUNYAC All-Academic Team & Commissioner List
Members.
o 28 Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Society Inductees.
o 15 individual scholar All-Americans.
o 5 National All-America Scholar Teams (W. Soccer, Field Hockey, M/W XC, M/W Swimming
& Diving).
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SUNY College at Oneonta Department of Athletics
_________________________________________________________
 Academics – continued
• Faculty Mentorship Program
o 15 campus faculty team /individual academic advisement.
• Grad Rate
o Reported 6 year grad rate: student-athletes (entire college career)
100% women, 100% men.
• Retention Rate
o 2014-15: 97%
• 20% Freshman class recruited by Athletics
o Survey results show #1 reason student-athletes choose Oneonta is academics, athletics
close second.
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It Starts From the First Conversation
_________________________________________________________
 Coaches communicate the AGP to all first year & transfer SA’s during
the recruitment process.
 Rationale, expectations and goals are all laid out.
 Shows the student athlete that we care about their academics.
 Academics are more important than athletic success.
 Parents are huge proponents of the AGP.
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Implementation Process
_________________________________________________________
 Coaches schedule beginning of semester meetings (within first two weeks) with any SA
who:
 Has a cumulative GPA below a 3.0
 Is a first semester SA
 Is a first semester transfer
 SA fills out the front page.
 Identifies what they feel their challenges are.
 Available on campus resources are discussed with SA.
 All meetings with the coach are logged on the back page of the AGP.
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Implementation Process Cont’d
_________________________________________________________
 SA meets with their Faculty Mentor (will discuss role later) to go over their AGP.
 Faculty Mentor can add anything they feel necessary to the document.
 Faculty Mentor and Coach will meet together after each of them meet with the SA.
 Coach and Faculty Mentor will meet with SA at least once a month (or as frequently as
needed).
 Coach keeps a copy of the AGP to review with the SA at end of year.
 All information will be reviewed with Academic Coordinator at years end.
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End of the Year Follow Up
_________________________________________________________
 Academic Coordinator meets with every coach and reviews the information in their AGP
from that year.
 What worked for their SA’s? What did not?
 End of the year reports are run to see how our SA’s did academically.
 The compiled information is shared with the staff to see how we did as a whole.
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Role of the Faculty Mentor
_________________________________________________________
 Faculty member that volunteers their time to a certain athletic team.
 They DO NOT replace the academic advisors.
 Assist SA’s with academic issues.
 Tutoring.
 Writing Critiques.
 Attend special events throughout the year (contests, recognitions, etc..).
 Give career specific attention to those in their academic field.
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Importance of Consistency
_________________________________________________________
 The message needs to be the same from all of our coaches.
 Academics come first.
 Why we have the AGP.
 Privilege to be an athlete.
 Follow the Athletic Department mission statement.
 Academic resources are available to all students, not just SA’s.
 Communication is key.
 Each SA will be held accountable.
GET IT DONE !
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Division III Week Activities
_________________________________________________________
 Kickoff DIII week giveaways (gloves, schedule of events, etc..).
 SA run educational sessions (LGBTQ Awareness).
 Career Spotlight with former student-athlete.
 Faculty Appreciation Dinner.
 Faculty Mentors, other faculty and supporters of athletics invited.
 Chi Alpha Sigma Luncheon.
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SUNY College at Oneonta Department of Athletics
_________________________________________________________
Division III Week Activities, Cont’d…
 Leadership Academy.
 The Lord’s Table – SA volunteers.
 CANstruction.
 Nutrition for Performance Expo – Dietetic Students & Dr. Bueche.
 Celebration of Winter NCAA Participants.
 Athletic Events.
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Communication & Partnership
Key to Success
_________________________________________________________
 Open communication and a partnership between Athletics, Faculty and Student-Athlete
critical to student-athlete success.
 Student-athletes are held accountable just like non-athletes.
 Privilege to be an athlete.
 All coaches have an academic game plan in place.
 Each team has a Faculty Mentor.
 Problems/Concerns: Student-Athlete CoachAssociate Athletic DirectorAthletic
Director.
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Communication & Partnership
Key to Success
_________________________________________________________
 Additional Resource: FAR (Jennifer.Bueche@ oneonta.edu ) or ext. 2050.
 Additional Resource: AAD (Ryan.Hooper@oneonta.edu) or ext. 2317.
 Get involved/Get more information: www.oneontaathletics.com.
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THE FACULTY FELLOW PROGRAM AT
WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY
Dr. Sharianne Walker
Faculty Athletics Representative
Dr. Michael Theulen
Director of Athletics
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Western New England University
Springfield, Massachusetts
Private Institution
Undergraduate Enrollment = 2,500
Primary Conference = Commonwealth Coast
Sports Sponsored = 19
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A Brief Description of the Faculty
Fellow Program
• History of the Program and Its Launch.
• Program Purpose.
• Program Design and Elements.
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Benefits to Four Key Partners
Student-Athletes
Coaches
Athletics Administration Faculty
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Key Outcomes
• Student-athlete support; increase in
satisfaction with athletic experience.
• Student-athlete alumni connections.
• Conduit for integration of athletic and
academic mission.
• Creation of broad-based
communication structure.
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Key Outcomes
• Coach engagement in academic community.
• Faculty engagement in athletic community.
• Delivers additional resources to studentathletes and Athletic Department.
• Positive impact on recruitment and retention.
• Strengthens, broadens and multiplies
effectiveness and impact of FAR in campus
community.
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What we’ve learned
• Student-athlete engagement is
critical.
• Coach and Faculty Fellow
relationship – trust, communication
and respect.
• University recognition of the Faculty
Fellow service.
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What we’ve learned
• Faculty Fellow program
varies by sport/team.
• Faculty Fellow program
structure – Executive
Board with connection to
Athletic Director.
• Low-cost, high impact.
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Future Directions
• New Faculty Orientation.
• University Senate Integration.
• Marketing Strategies – DIII
Week.
• Faculty Fellow Best Practices.
• Expanded Programming.
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SCHOLAR ATHLETE PROGRAM AT
UW-STOUT
Dr. Jo Hopp
Faculty Athletics Representative
Duey Naatz
Director of Athletics
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University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, Wisconsin
State Institution
Undergraduate Enrollment = 7,000
Primary Conference = WIAC
Sports Sponsored = 16
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Key pieces in the beginning
– History.
– NCAA ISSG – Identified a need for
meetings.
– New FARs with passion.
– Administrative support.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
Objectives - Intentional Design
– Celebrate Academic Success.
– Connect Faculty to Students.
– Administrative Interaction.
– Intimacy.
– Motivational.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
How did we get there?
– Budget.
– Administration Support and Involvement.
– “Long Term” Identity.
– Maintain Focus and Objectives.
– Luck.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
FAR Perspectives – The Effects!
– Connection between Academics and
Athletics.
– Academic Impact.
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Award
Recipients
Total Student-Athletes
Invited
2014-15
30
135 (>30%)
2013-14
23
100
2012-13
18
90
2011-12
16
94
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
Academic Outcomes
– Overall GPA of Student Athletes has increased in 8 consecutive
years.
– WIAC All-Academic Award.
• 5 years in a row
• 2014-2015: SAs: 3.238 General: 3.085
– Combined Efforts of Coaches, Athletic Administration and FARs.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
FAR Perspectives – The Effects!
– Connection between Academics
and Athletics.
– Academic Impact.
– Motivation of Student-Athletes.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
Motivation
– Overall strong positive attitude toward program.
– 86% agree they can achieve scholar athlete recognition if they work hard
enough.
– GPA expectations by parents, coaches and professors higher if greater
awareness of program and criteria.
• Ex: 2.82 vs. 3.39
(coaches expectations)
– 72% agree the program bolsters their motivation to achieve academically.
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UW-Stout Scholar-Athlete Program
FAR Perspectives – The Effects!
– Connection between Academics and Athletics.
– Academic Impact.
– Motivation of Student-Athletes.
– FAR Role Changes.
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What Keeps it Going
– Coaches
• Believe in the program
• Recruit better students
– Communication
• FAR Team meetings
• AD Team meetings
• Everyone’s talking about academics!
– Involvement of Faculty
– Support by Administration
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OPEN FORUM
QUESTIONS FOR OUR
PANELISTS
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