Presented at the 2014 NASPA Conference in Baltimore, MD March 18, 2014.
The demands placed on today's student-athletes challenge their own engagement in traditional student life. Campuses either ignore these issues or continue to try and force the “square peg into the round hole.” The key to effectively integrating athletics with student life is to first understand the student-athlete experience. Presenters will discuss collaboration between student affairs and athletics to support this unique environment for student-athletes.
1. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Understanding the Student-Athlete Experience
Within the Student Affairs Context
3 ½ Keys To
Enlightenment
2. Today’s Panel
Vanderbilt University (unable to attend)
Mark McHorney, Benedictine University
Mark Majeski, Majeski Athletic Consulting
(moderator)
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
3. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Session Objectives
• UNDERSTAND
Understand “student- athlete
experience”
• THINK
Identify campus-specific opportunities
for collaboration and support
• ACT
Generate ONE specific action you will
take by Monday, March 24, 2014.
4. Ask yourself…
“What are 2-3 things I wish we did
better with Athletics and / or
Student-Athletes?”
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
5. 3 ½ Keys
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
1. Seek first to
UNDERSTAND, then to
be understood.
(Covey’s 7 Habits)
6. 3 ½ Keys
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
2.
(COLLABORATE).
7. 3 ½ Keys
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
3. Measure twice, cut once
(Assessment).
8. 3 ½ Keys
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
3 ½
Utilize the power of
the Coach/Student-
Athlete relationship
(LEVERAGE).
9.
10. 1. UNDERSTAND
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Assumptions
Preconceptions
Student-Athlete priorities
1.Athletics / Academics
2.Academics / Athletics
3.Sleep / Health / Wellness
4.Social Life
NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT
FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
PROGRAMMING
11. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
“… it’s a bigger
part of us
than our friends
and family can
understand.”
12. 1. UNDERSTAND Identity
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Athlete
Student
Person
18. 3. ASSESSMENT Why It’s Important
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
1. Demonstrates you
CARE about student-
athletes and VALUE
their feedback and
experiences
2. Due diligence in
MONITORING and
evaluating programs.
3. You just might LEARN
something.
19. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
There is no person on campus who will
have a stronger relationship with a
student-athlete than his or her coach.
Leverage Coach
Student-Athlete
Relationships
3 ½. LEVERAGE
20. Ask yourself…
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Who on campus can
bridge a gap between
Student Affairs and
Athletics / student-
athletes?
22. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Why is Benedictine U. Unique?
A Commitment to Student-Athlete Success
23. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Commitment to Student-Athlete Success
Campus units working together
24. 2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Commitment to Student-Athlete Success
SOAR Academy
Support. Collaboration. Accountability.
25. David Williams II
Vanderbilt University
Vice Chancellor for
Athletics & University Affairs and
Athletics Director
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
27. • Value STUDENTS
• On-going Assessment
• Deep Collaboration
• Be different – be bold
• Keep score
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Suggestions and Advice
28. Ask yourself…
“What ONE thing can I do next week
to move my
issue/concern/opportunity forward?”
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
30. Wrap Up
• Clarify what you want student-athletes to
learn, develop and demonstrate
• Ask your student-athletes for feedback
• Leverage the coach/student-athlete
relationship
• Collaborate with Athletics staff
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
31. Resources
• NCAA (http://www.ncaa.org)
– SCORE / GOALS Research
– Student-Athlete Assessment Tool
• Time in the Lives of Division III Student-Athletes
http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/ssa.2009.3.3.
285
• “Understanding Your Student-Athlete Experience” e-Book;
Majeski (April 2014)
http://www.majeskiathleticconsulting.com
2014 NASPA Annual Conference * Baltimore, Maryland * March 15-19, 2014
Welcome / Thanks NASPA COULD NOT BE A BETTER THEME… Lead, Innovate, Transform… for this topicImportance of athletics on campuses and experiences of student-athletesAll within Student Affairs context because STUDENT AFFAIRS is about supporting students, ALL studentsHow this work supports the OVERALL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCEWho is here? Student Affairs? Athletics? Other?Who here is tired of the stereotype of student-athletes as DUMB JOCKS, who don’t graduate, are THUGS and ONLY IN SCHOOL FOR SPORTS?Who here is tired of student-athletes living up to these stereotypes?Not here to talk about either of those things, but it relates to the work we all do, and raises issues confronting athletics and student affairs today.To work effectively and collaboratively with Athletics Departments, Student Affairs staff must fully understand student-athletes and their world.When I started my business … SA experience is paramount, but how do you know if you’re doing a good job?You may have a sense of what works and doesn’t but there are always things that come up“We spend a lot of money on things that WE THINK they need.”
Orientation activitiesResidential LifeJudicial operationsIM / Club Sports / Recreation
Why 3 ½ ? Seek first to Understand, then be Understood (Covey)Student-AthletesAthletics Staff / Student Affairs Staff
Why 3 ½ ? CollaborationCommon purpose and missions in Athletics and Student AffairsWork together, maximizing strengths
Why 3 ½ ? Understanding and working together does nothing unless you know if what you’re doing works.FeedbackAssessment / evaluationIncorporate changes
Why 3 ½ ? Coaches are underutilized resources in student affairs
FactsGrad rates… above student body (except FB, MBB)Committed to education and being a student and take pride in their academic capabilitiesSome friction when conflicts arise between academics and athleticsWant people (faculty, staff, students, etc) to understand their commitment levels and what they must do to succeed academically and athleticsMy work with student-athletes“What do you think is the biggest pressure / stressor / challenge for SA’s?”Time. Simply fitting everything in is hard. Athletic commitments and academic requirements leave little time for anything else. STRUCTURED lives that actually help them. (Gray/Heuser research)Social lives suffer…. BUT THEY WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.
If student-athletes feel that friends and family can’t understand their commitment to athletics, where does that leave Student Affairs personnel?They want people to know how important athletics is to them and how much of a commitment it is.Identity – Student & AthleteProud to represent institutionsWant people to respect that
PrideAsk them… they are an athlete. However, most take pride in student side as well.Spent most of their lives dedicated to sport. It’s a part of who they are. One part of their current environment (Coaches) recognizes and rewards commitment;Other parts can question their priorities and often discourage athletics (which is what they are MOST PASSIONATE about)
Often overcommit… Not ready for the realities of collegeThey did everything in high school (to build their “resume”) and they could handle itHealth wellness issues… academic rigor… the first “B”All of these things ON TOP of athletics expectations and commitments…Consistently, student-athletes say they see their teammates (or themselves) regularly exhibiting signs of high stress.
THINK OF A FIRST-YEAR student… 18 years old, away from home for the first time. Wants to please…ConflictsLesser of two evilsWho to disappointEXAMPLESFraternity commitmentFood Service and quality of food / availabilityMandatory training (first year or other)Sexual harassment, etc.Peer pressuresPerceptions of equity / disparityPrejudice: you can’t be a good or serious student because you are an athlete“All you care about is sports”
Missions and purposes for student affairs and athletics are very similar (as they should be)Support student successCommon wordsDevelopmentLeadershipStudentsEnhanceEducationAcademicServiceachieve
Common misperception of coaches: 3 month job, 2 hours a dayRelationships with student-athletes (and their FAMILIES) begins in junior year of high schools sometimesCoaches often know more about student-athletes lives than anyone else on campus.Should be trained on how to identify and recognize behaviors and characteristics
Need to clarify purpose, missionAlignment of Student Affairs, Athletics (with institutions)Identify OutcomesWhat do you want student-athletes to learn?Identify Areas for natural collaborationAthletics Staff / Student Affairs StaffEstablish some form of assessment
Needs to be regular, consistent.Student-athletes need to feel SAFE in order for them to be honest.On-going. Not just when there are problems.Become part of the culture… student-athlete feedback is valued and important.Not just about coaches, but about supporting their OVERALL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Role of CoachesCoaches are vital student affairs professionalsMay not feel it, want it or be acknowledged as suchNeed to LEVERAGE the coach-student-athlete relationshipMental health issues, wellness etc.COACHES can’t be experts, but they need to be trained to identify behaviors or similar indicators
Health CenterCounselingLearning Resource Center
Whyis Benedictine unique:Reporting lines Senior Student Life Team Dedicated student athlete services staffStudent Athlete Services “TEAM”Know it is about the People
Understand where athletics stands Recruitment & Retention Understand student learning outcomes Understand Why we at Benedictine Benedictine PromiseHow do the units work together: Assist in RA selection Programming inclusion Understand long term vision (student life) On campus behavior - collaborationCelebrate success (PBIS – New) Understand the vehicle we are in
SOAR Academy – Eagles Issue – New Program Delivering the value of a liberal arts education College to Career Who Student life team Alumni & Development Enrollment Police Four colleges SOAR Academy – Eagles ResultsDeep collaboration Accountable approach
Example of highly academic institution competing at the highest level athletically.Commitment from Board of Trustees, Chancellor on down that student-athletes and athletics will be integral to the Vanderbilt Experience.Study AbroadStrong Vandy programMost opportunities are during academic year, which conflicts with athleticsAthletics worked with study abroad program to create summer opportunities FacilitiesNew indoor practice facility utilized by entire campus community; athletics likely use the fewest hoursAssessmentIncoming first-years to determine what types of support are neededOn-going to continually meet student-athletes’ needs
Advice Deep Collaboration Be different – be bold Keep score
Understand that student-athletes are DIFFERENTNot ‘worse’ or ‘better’ or ‘privileged’ EMBRACE their strengths and leverage themDon’t maintain traditional obstaclesClarify what student-athletes need and are challenged byAdvocate for those thingsClarify expectations for student-athletesASK student-athletes for feedbackLEVERAGE the coach/student-athlete relationshipCoaches should serve on committees, etc.