Florida Atlantic University - Athletics

Academic Support Services for FAU Student-Athletes

As a student-athlete at FAU, you will have a wide variety of support services available to help you become a successful student. Student-athletes are often faced with additional responsibilities and time constraints that are not imposed on the general student body. In response to these additional responsibilities, the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence (SACAE) was created to assist you in your academic endeavors and personal development throughout your college career (see description of services below).

It is important to point out that while utilizing available support services will positively impact your performance, you are ultimately responsible for your academic success. You are expected to attend all classes, take notes, and engage in appropriate academic behavior at all times. You also should plan to meet with your professors during their office hours whenever necessary.

Please remember that the SACAE is only one resource and was not established to keep you isolated from other parts of the University community. You must also interact with college advisors, faculty and a wide variety of University personnel. Your academic counselor can, however, serve as a liaison between you and other University officials, providing you with the necessary knowledge to help you gain academic and social independence.

Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence

The Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence is located in room 261 of the Oxley Center. The SACAE is open from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. There are two computer labs that hold approximately 40 computer stations with internet and printing capabilities. You are encouraged to visit the SACAE for all of your academic and computing needs.

The primary goal of the SACAE is to assist you in reaching your educational goals while you compete in intercollegiate athletics. As academic affairs officers, counselors function as liaisons between the athletic and academic communities. Your academic counselor is available to assist you by instituting academic and social support programs which include, but are not limited to Academic Enhancement, Tutorial Services, Secondary Advising, Study Hall, and Life Skills Programs.

Academic Enhancement/Tutorial Services

As an FAU student-athlete, you will be assigned to an academic counselor who will work closely with you on a variety of academic enhancement activities. You will have regular meetings with your academic counselor throughout your college career to structure your individualized learning plan and coordinate your academic plan of study. This will all take place in close collaboration with the academic advisor within your major. Your counselor can also provide assistance with important fundamental academic skills such as note taking, exam taking strategies, communication, and time management. The academic counselor assigned to your team will be at your first team meeting in the fall to introduce him or herself and answer any questions you might need addressed.

The Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence also offers a comprehensive tutorial program for student-athletes. The purpose of FAU's tutorial program is to supplement all of the sound educational practices (class attendance, note taking, time management, professor contact, etc.) that are necessary for the academic success of all students. Each semester a tutorial staff is hired consisting of well-trained graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency in their respective subject areas. Special emphasis is given during your freshmen year to help you develop strong written and quantitative skills. A collaborative effort is currently in place between the SACAE and the University Center for Excellence in Writing to have writing consultants available to work with you during the evenings in the Oxley Center. In addition to this writing assistance, math and other subject tutors are available on an appointment basis. While tutors are generally available on an individual basis, group sessions may also be arranged.

Please remember that you should never be embarrassed to ask for a tutor. Almost everyone needs some help in a course at some point during their academic career. One of the most common mistakes that students make is waiting until they are in serious trouble in a course before asking for help. If you use the tutorial services when you begin having trouble, you'll save a lot of time, frustration and wasted effort. Even if you are doing well in a class and simply wish to improve your grade, you are welcome and encouraged to use the free tutorial program that is available to all student-athletes.

You can request a tutor by filling out a "tutorial request" form in the SACAE or through your academic counselor. Please refer to Appendix A for a description of tutorial policies and procedures.

Academic Advising

As a student-athlete at Florida Atlantic University, you will benefit from a comprehensive dual advising process. You will work closely with your primary academic advisors (faculty or college representatives) to formulate plans of study that coincide with your areas of academic interest. In addition, you will also be assigned to an academic counselor from the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence who educates you regarding NCAA eligibility rules and takes steps to keep conflicts between academic tasks, practices, or competitions to a minimum. The goal of this dual advising process is to allow you to pursue the degree of your choice, while simultaneously maintaining your athletic eligibility and getting the most out of your potential in the classroom. While assistance and guidance exist to support your efforts, you are ultimately responsible for your own progress toward a degree, registration, and compliance with university policies and procedures.

Freshman: You will be advised through Freshman Academic Advising Services. At 30 credit hours, if you have a declared major, you will be advised through your respective college/department. Each college and department has a different advising system. You may be advised by faculty advisors or professional advisors.

Transfer students (with more than 30 credit hours): You will be advised by the college/department faculty or professional advisor determined by your major. You are encouraged to determine early in your academic career which major you would like to pursue and to take courses that are directly applicable toward that major. For NCAA eligibility, you are accountable for earning credits required for your declared major (see NCAA Compliance for a complete description of academic eligibility requirements). Prior to your fifth semester of collegiate enrollment, it is necessary to officially declare a major. To declare a major, you will need to complete a change of major form. You can obtain this form from the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence or from the Registrar's office. After completing the form, you will take it to the advising center for your intended major. The process may vary depending on the center with which you are working. You may need to take the completed paperwork to the Registrar's Office to be processed. Once you have submitted the paperwork, you should take your copy to your academic counselor in the SACAE who will keep a copy on file. In addition, you will need to keep your copy for your records. This dated paperwork is important for your NCAA eligibility.

For contact numbers, click here.

Study Hall

All freshmen student-athletes and students who have a history of academic difficulties (e.g., probation, behind on credits, etc.) are required to attend daily study hall in the SACAE. You should not view study hall as a punishment, but rather as an opportunity to ensure that you are structuring your time properly and keeping up with your academic responsibilities. If you utilize your study time in an effective manner, you will undoubtedly make positive strides toward attaining your academic goals.

The FAU study hall system is objective based and is designed to help you study efficiently and effectively. Your individual study plan is created specifically for you by your academic athletic counselor. The SACAE hours of operation are as follows: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. In certain cases, you may be assigned specific study hall times.

In order to receive credit for your study hall hours, you must first log-in and check in with the monitor who is on duty. You are expected to be working productively on academic related work to successfully complete your study time. The following activities are appropriate during study hall hours:

Reading or completing assignments for a specific class

Working on writing assignments on the computer

Meeting with a tutor

Attending an appointment in the Oxley satellite Writing Center

Working on a group assignment for a specific class (in the Oxley Center)

Communicating with professors via email

Searching the internet for material that is directly related to coursework The following activities are not appropriate during study hall hours:

Surfing the internet for non-academic related material (e.g., Facebook and MySpace)

Sending personal emails

Reading any materials that are not directly linked to coursework (e.g., newspapers, magazines, etc.)

Loud or disruptive behavior

Use of inappropriate language

Playing computer games

Life Skills for Student-Athletes

As an incoming freshmen at FAU, you are required to enroll in a "Learning Strategies and Human Development Class" (SLS 1503) that is designed specifically for student-athletes. This class will provide you with the information, knowledge, and confidence that will help you feel secure in your new environment and promote the successful transition from high school to college. This course also will help you develop a set of adaptive, coping, critical thinking, and problem solving skills that will enable you to balance the myriad of new demands that are associated with college life. Topics that will be covered in this class will range from academic skills such as note taking and exam taking strategies, to important life skills such as time management, critical thinking skills, health and wellness education, career development, and stress management.

In addition to your participation in this class, the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence also offers a variety of "life skills" workshops throughout the year. Members of each athletic team are required to attend at least two "life skills" workshops each semester. These workshops will focus on a variety of topics that impact the general well being of student-athletes (e.g., drug and alcohol education, gambling issues, sexual responsibility, nutrition, performance anxiety, etc.). Workshops will be advertised in the SACAE and via email. You are strongly encouraged to attend as many of these workshops as possible.

Career Development for Student-Athletes

The Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence offers a variety of life skills workshops regarding career development programs for student-athletes. There will be a series of workshops that vary each semester that focus on such topics as resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, and job networking. These topics are further presented as part of the FAU Athletic Department's Mentor Program. For more information on the Mentor Program, contact Shelley Binegar at (561) 297-0408.

In addition to these services that are offered through the Academic Center, the Career Development Center at FAU offers many programs designed to help you prepare for future entry into the workplace. The Career Development Center serves as a useful resource to help you choose a major, clarify career goals, complete career assessment inventories, and participate in career planning workshops (resume writing, interview preparation, job searches, salary negotiation, etc.). The Career Center also offers a variety of career days and graduate/professional school fairs during each semester. If you are interested in participating in an internship or job co-op opportunity, or if you simply want to begin your career development journey, you are strongly encouraged to visit the Career Development Center in the Student Services Building, room 222.

Student-Athlete Advisory Council

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a student run organization that exists to help student-athletes cope with and understand the overall collegiate experience. This committee gives student-athletes a venue to express their needs and concerns about their overall well-being, and help initiate and impact future improvements within the Athletic Department. If you have concerns about a specific issue within the Athletic Department, you may want to contact the SAAC representative from your team to have the issue raised at the next meeting.

Members of SAAC also organize a wide variety of community service projects each semester. Past projects have included Holiday food drives, toy drives, and after-school tutoring. The SAAC committee also arranges several activities to promote student-athlete unity, including student-athlete social events and group trips to support FAU's athletic teams. The SAAC consists of at least one representative from each FAU athletic team and a staff member who provides guidance in the various endeavors the committee undertakes each semester. If you would like to get involved with the SAAC committee or any community outreach activities, please contact your coach or academic counselor.

Class Attendance and Excused Absences

Regular class attendance is mandatory for all FAU student-athletes. A department wide attendance policy has been put in place beginning the Fall 2007 semester. Students who do not attend classes may lose benefits associated with being a student-athlete, and practice and competition time (see Appendix E for the policy). Furthermore, students who abuse the policy will not be granted summer school funding.

It cannot be emphasized enough that there is a direct correlation between classroom attendance and academic success. Besides the obvious fact that you need to be in class to attain relevant information, many classes at FAU have a portion of the final grade designated for attendance and class participation. Furthermore, if you happen to have difficulties with a specific class, your professor is much more likely to work with you if you have demonstrated an interest in the class by attending regularly.

Depending on your sport, there will likely be several instances each semester when you miss classes as a result of team travel. It is essential that you communicate with each of your professors during the first week of classes regarding any anticipated absences due to team travel. Communicating with your professors during the first week will allow you to identify any problematic situations while there is still time to make adjustments to your schedule via add/drop. These conversations also will demonstrate to your professors that you are a conscientious student who is serious about the course. Your academic counselor will provide you with a letter at the start of the semester that documents your excused absences. It is your responsibility to bring this letter to your instructors and make the necessary arrangements to make up any missed work.

There is an official policy at FAU which states that "instructors must allow each student who is absent for a University-approved reason (athletic related travel) the opportunity to make up work missed without any reduction in the student's final course grade as a direct result of such absence". This policy is only valid if you properly notify your professor during the first week of classes and prior to each subsequent excused absence. Any unexcused absences on your part may alter the implementation of the policy. If you encounter a professor who you believe is penalizing you as a result of excused absences related to team travel, you should contact your academic counselor immediately. In an effort to minimize the loss of class time and to ensure that you are available to take midterm and final exams when scheduled, the following additional policies are in effect:

You will not be required to attend practice activities that result in a missed scheduled class or final exam. Activities considered to be practice include: Conditioning (weight training and running), training room appointments, meetings (to include individual film watching), on-field practice.

Whenever possible, competition and travel time will not be scheduled to conflict with final exams. In the event that you have a competition during the final exam period, you will have the option of being excused from the competition without penalty if you have a conflict with a specific exam, or if you need additional time to prepare.

Media and recruiting requests will not interfere with class or exam schedules.

Student-Athlete Book Policies and Procedures

As part of your athletic scholarship, the Athletic Department may furnish you with the required textbooks for your academic courses. There will be a designated time in the beginning of each semester that you can go to the FAU Bookstore to pick up your textbooks. You will need to bring your student ID, and a hard copy of your schedule to the bookstore during your assigned time. Representatives from the Bookstore and the Academic Center will be present to ensure that you receive the appropriate books in a timely manner.

Please remember that you are allowed to receive only the "required" textbooks for courses in which you are officially registered. You are strongly encouraged to purchase "optional" textbooks as well, but you must purchase these books with your own money.

You are expected to return all textbooks that were purchased for you by the Athletic Department on or prior to the last day of final exams each semester. You will be charged the full price for any books that are not returned. Any student who abuses these book policies could be in violation of NCAA rules and may face disciplinary action from the Athletic Department.

Summer School

As a student-athlete at FAU, you are expected to make every effort to satisfy continuing eligibility requirements during the regular academic year (see Compliance section for an overview of continuing eligibility requirements). However, situations may arise in which you need to enroll in summer school for eligibility purposes. You may also choose to attend summer school to continue making progress toward your degree. Due to budgetary constraints, the Athletic Department can not guarantee that funding will be available for summer school. However, your academic progress is very important to us and every effort will be made to provide assistance; especially if you have demonstrated a history of responsible academic behavior (e.g., regular class attendance, positive feedback from professors, utilization of support services, etc.). Students who abuse the Attendance Policy will not be granted summer school funding.

Since summer school funding is not automatically provided, you must formally request for financial support by completing the summer school application form (see appendix B). You should complete this form in collaboration with your academic counselor and head coach. If you are approved for summer school funding, you will need to sign the "summer school contract" which states that any student-athlete who withdraws from a course or receives a failing grade must reimburse the Athletic Department for the cost of the course. Please be aware that the Athletic Department can only provide financial aid for summer school at a level that is directly proportional to your aid during the regular academic year (e.g., if you are on a 50% scholarship, you can be funded for 50% of your summer school expenses).

Summer School Attendance at Another University

Many student-athletes often decide to enroll in courses at other universities to earn additional credits in the summer. If you decide to pursue this option, you need to complete the following steps:

Meet with your college advisor and academic counselor to decide which course(s) you plan to enroll in. You may need to get a copy of the course description from the university where you are taking the class.

Complete a "transient student form" on line. You can access this form at www.facts.org. Click on "transient form" at the lower left hand corner. Make sure to hit the "submit" icon once the form is completed.

You will receive emails after your college and the Registrar's Office completes the approvals. After the school that you wish to attend acknowledges the receipt of the transient form, you will need to complete the registration process at the other school. You may need to wait for their "non-degree" registration period to open. In order to guarantee that credits from other institutions will count toward your degree program, you must complete this pre-approval process described above, and the course must be applicable to your designated major. You should also keep in mind that the grade point average you earn at other institutions does not have any impact on your cumulative FAU grade point average that is used to determine NCAA eligibility. If you are taking courses abroad, you will be required to pay and have your courses evaluated by an outside agency.

FAU Degree Completion Program

It is the goal of the FAU Athletic Department to support all student-athletes who are conscientiously working toward a degree. In an effort to support this goal, the department may provide "5th year aid" to students who have not graduated by the time their athletic eligibility is exhausted. This aid cannot exceed five years and must occur within six years of initial enrollment.

The Athletic Department is committed to paying for 120 attempted credits for student-athletes who begin their careers at FAU as first-time freshmen and receive an athletic scholarship for four years. The number of attempted credits that will be paid for transfer students or students who receive an athletic scholarship after their first semester will be assessed on a case by case basis and may vary depending on students' major and previous academic history. Transfer students are expected to consult with their head coach and academic counselor prior to enrollment to discuss their selected major, length of scholarship commitment, and corresponding timetable for graduation.

If you are interested in being considered for 5th year aid, you will need to complete the application form (see appendix C), have it signed by your head coach, and return it to your academic counselor. You will receive notification during your final semester of eligibility regarding the deadline for 5th year aid applications. Applications for 5th year aid will be reviewed by the Athletic Scholarship Committee and funding determinations will be made accordingly. Funding for 5th year aid is not an automatic benefit. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated a history of responsible academic behavior.

If you are selected to receive 5th year aid, you will be expected to work on a volunteer basis for the Athletic Department (in place of your previous 20 hour playing and practice requirements) for a set number of hours each week depending on your funding level (20 hours for a full scholarship athlete). Every effort will be made to identify work assignments that correspond to your area of interest. Failure to perform assigned duties, repeated absences, or tardiness will result in forfeiture of your funding.

Academic Honesty

As a student-athlete at FAU, you are expected to uphold the Honor Code of the University at all times. Please refer to the University Catalog for a full description of the Honor Code, especially as it pertains to academic irregularities and students' academic grievances.

The most important thing to remember is that cheating of any kind will have severe repercussions for student-athletes and will not be tolerated. This includes cheating on tests and quizzes, plagiarism, or having others complete your work for you. If you decide to cheat, you are not only jeopardizing your future, but you are also putting the reputation of your teammates and the Athletic Department at risk.

Here are some helpful hints to ensure that you maintain academic integrity at all times.

You can not use the ideas or words of another and present them as your own. You can, however, use ideas from others in a paper or speech, provided that you properly acknowledge the source of your material.

If you paraphrase information from a website and include it in your submitted work, you must properly acknowledge the website and author. All FAU instructors have access to a software program that automatically detects work that is plagiarized from the internet. Stealing information from the internet is a serious violation of the University Honor Code.

Many students are accused of plagiarism because they are not aware of the appropriate procedures for acknowledging sources. If you are unsure how to site your sources, or if you don't understand what constitutes plagiarism, you should confer with your professor or academic counselor prior to handing in any assignments.

If you need assistance with writing assignments or other academic work, you should utilize the support services that are provided through the SACAE. Writing tutors and consultants are available to provide assistance seven days a week. In addition, the FAU Writing Center is located in the Oxley Center from 7-9pm.

Plan ahead for your writing assignments. Many plagiarism situations occur because students panic when it appears that a paper is not going to be completed by the assigned due date. It is always better to request an extension from your instructor or hand in a sub par paper than to risk plagiarizing. With proper planning and utilization of support services, you should not have any difficulties completing your own work on time.