Creating a Comprehensive Student-Athlete Support Program: Best Practices with NO Budget!

Jenn Burleson, Mt. San Jacinto CollegeAssociate Professor/ CounselorStudent Athlete Support Program CoordinatorN4A Region V Concurrent WorkshopMonday, October 27, 2014 1:00-2:00pm

Objectives for Today’s Workshop

- To explore a comprehensive community college student athlete support program developed with NO BUDGET

- To determine the benefits for creating a comprehensive support program for student athletes

- To discuss possible funding sources currently in your district to maximize academic support for student athletes

- To share best practice ideas to increase student athlete success at your colleges

Why is this important for Two Year College Transfers?

NCAA ACADEMIC REFORMDIVISION I Have a 2.500 GPA in all transferable hours. All students are limited to two physical

education credit hours from the two-year college to meet credit and GPA requirements. Exception for PE majors but there will still be

some sort of limit for PE activity units

What are the benefits?Increase retention rates of 2 year college student

athletesIncrease persistence rates of 2 year college student

athletes Increase graduation rates for 2 year college transfer

student athletesIncrease student athlete success ratesStudent athletes are properly learning basic skills

they were lacking prior to college enrollmentStudent athletes are able to stick with their

intended major of choiceCreating a culture of future college educated adult

student athlete advocates

Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC)Student Athlete Population

2013-2014 Academic Year11 sports860 unduplicated head count inquiring about

intercollegiate athletics2880 duplicated headcount student athletes received

athletic counseling services227 student athletes (actually played)197 students assessed at MSJC using the ACCUPLACER

ASSESSMENTOut of the 197 that assessed, 189 placed into basic skills

classes (Math, English and/or Reading)96% of student athletes at MSJC assess into basic skills/

remedial classes

In the beginning…1 Part-time (21 hrs per week) athletic

counselorEducational Plans OnlyNo program in placeNo academic support for student athletesNo true vision for student athlete success on

the academic side of the houseNO BUDGET!!!

Creating a VisionLink to the colleges mission , strategic plan, and educational master plan

Student Athlete Support Program VisionThe vision of the Student Athlete Support Program is to provide the necessary support to assist all student athletes in reaching their full

potential academically and personally.  This proactive program motivates and assists student-athletes to make successful transitions

to college life, achievement and maintaining a satisfactory level of academic performance.  The Student Athlete Support Program focuses on fostering the total development of student-athletes.

http://www.msjc.edu/Athletics/StudentAthleteSupport/Pages/default.aspx

Student Athlete Support Services Chart

COMPONENT 1: ATHLETIC COUNSELINGAcademic Counseling- mandatory educational planning for

eligibilityCareer Counseling- Meeting requirements for transfer (40-

60-80), any career counseling (GUID/ COUN classes)Personal Counseling- NCAA/ NAIA issues and concerns,

eligibility centerCrisis intervention- homelessness, Drugs/ Alcohol, 5150’sOutreach- high school, preparation of changing NCAA/

NAIA requirementsCollege Governance- Student Athlete Advisory CommitteesResearch- Any data collection the district usesTraining and Professional Development- 3C4A/N4A

Conferences, Athletic Counseling Interns

Assessment/ Course PlacementStudents do not need a high school diploma, GED or

Proficiency Exam completed in order to attend a community college or junior college

The only requirement is that a student must be 18 years old and they can attend a community college

Many prospective NCAA student athletes are extremely under prepared as they enter a community college and need extensive remediation

Some colleges have as many as 38 units of basic skills/ remedial classes needed before college level if a student places at the lowest level of Math, English, and Reading.

77% of all community college students come in needing some form of remediation or basic skills preparation

English Placement

ENGL 061 Basic Grammar and

Usage (4 units)

ENGL 062 Basic Writing Skills

(4 units)

ENGL 098 English Fundamentals

(4 units)

ENGL 101Freshman

Composition(NEED FOR

NCAA) (4 units)

ENGL 103Critical Thinking

(NEED FOR NCAA)(4 units)

English Sequence

ENGL 092Accelerated

English Fundamentals

(5 units)

Accelerated

MATH 055 Pre-Algebra

(3 units)

MATH 090 Elementary

Algebra (4 units)

MATH 096 Intermediate

Algebra (5 units)*

College Level Math/Transferable Level (NEED FOR

NCAA)

Math Placement*Minimum level

needed for AA/AS. Additional level of math needed for

transfer.

MATH 090A (3 units)

& MATH 090B

(3 units)

MATH 096A (3 units)

& MATH 096B

(3 units)

OR

OR

Mt. San Jacinto College Education Plan Example

Component 2: Athletic ForumAn event that brings all student athletes together to

welcome incoming student athletes for the first time or welcome returning student athletes back to school in the fall semester

College administrators, athletic faculty and other staff members speak as well (Enrollment Services Staff, Financial Aid, SGA, etc.)

Previous topics: Academic Success Sexual Assault/ Harassment Prevention Drug and Alcohol Awareness Academic Dishonesty Social Media Branding

Component 3: Athletic Instructional Support Student Athlete Scholars Program serve student athletes in basic skills

courses in developing the attributes and academic competence to succeed in their coursework and make positive gains towards transfer. 

This program focuses on providing intensive support of the domains vital to student success, including develop key competencies for academic performance, such as study skills, time management, and goal setting and motivation, as well as effective support to keep school and life in balance.  

Support is delivered through multiple avenues of interconnected support, while the primary tool used in assisting student athletes will be individual and group tutoring.

20 hrs per week Program Coordinator New Room 1452- 17 computers

8/19/13- 5/30/2014 student contacts through Scholars Program 1006 duplicated student contacts

8/18/14- 10/6/14 student contacts though Scholars Program 884 duplicated student contacts

Component 4: Summer BridgeIntroduces students to the culture of higher education in the

California community college system and higher education.  Focuses on orientation to college life and an in-depth

exploration of higher education resources  Concepts of student rights and responsibilities, college

policies and procedures, professor and college expectations of the students, as well as graduation and transfer requirements as a student and/or a student athlete will be focused on

Explanation of NCAA and NAIA rules along with the CCCAA rules are introduced

Explores factors in educational decision making, major selection and development of an effective educational plan in order to meet goals and transfer requirements as a student athlete

- Over 3 sections of GUID 151L: SU14- 68 new incomingFreshman participated- 49/64 participated in aWriting prep session- 76.5% were able to moveUp one level of English

Component 5: Support Courses Community Learning for Athletic Scholars Success (CLASS)  MSJC learning communities will provide students with the

pathways necessary to successfully transition from non-transfer courses to transfer courses through an integrative approach. 

The mission of Community Learning for Athletic Scholars Success (CLASS) is to help student athletes successfully complete their college English requirements within two years while completing additional general education requirements by developing a sense of community, by encouraging academic collaboration, and by helping them to develop skills that promote lifelong learning.

Stand Alone Guidance Classes Targeted for Student Athletes:

GUID 100 College Success GUID 116 Career Life Planning GUID 105 Transitions for Intercollegiate Student Athletes

- 2013-2014 CLASS Success Rates- FA 13- ENGL 092 86% passedwith a C or better (District avg. 76%)-SP 14- ENGL 101 80% passedwith a C or better (District avg. 68.6%)- Survey results revealed qualitative positive results for the CLASS LCOM

COMPONENT 6: OUTREACH College Bound Student Athlete Night

How to obtain funding for support?If you want something…go and get itAsk for support from multiple sourcesDO researchProvide statistics and dataContact the Grants Officer or Staff member in

your districtJoin committees that are tied to funding (BSI/

Student Equity)Create a Program ReviewWrite a Resource Allocation Proposal (RAP)- may

be called something different in your district

How to obtain funding for support?Collaborate with faculty on campusCollaborate with Learning Centers or Library

on campusProfessional Associations

3C4A- Shared Resources http://www.3c4a.org/index.html

List Serve in your regionJoin a committee within N4ANetwork/ Marketing

Breakout Group DiscussionGet in groups of 2-4Take 1 to 2 minutes to briefly answer each

question on the handout providedDesignate a spokesperson for your groupReport out to the group

Education and knowledge is Forever!!!- Over the last 3 years MSJC student athletes have been awarded approximately 1.2 million dollars in scholarship money to pursue a bachelors degree at a 4 year college as an intercollegiate student athlete!

Questions?