Graduate Program

College Student Affairs

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2016

Thesis Director

Daniel P. Nadler

Abstract

Student-athletes' are faced with a unique set of challenges to balance both athletic and academic responsibilities. Many colleges and universities have provided their student-athletes with support services to help assist them in achieving academic success. This study focused on sophomore student-athletes perceptions of their institution's resources and their identity as a collegiate athlete. Chickering and Reisser's (1993) theory of identity development was used to better understand the new experiences and development of student-athletes' during their transition from freshman to sophomore year. The results of the present study indicated that without the athletic academic support services, student-athletes felt they would not do well in their courses and/or not graduate from the institution. The daily routine of going to class, practice, and working on homework requires that student-athletes' have time management skills to earn high achievement in each aspect of their collegiate experience. Athletic academic support services help to monitor student-athletes progress towards degree and athletic eligibility. The services provided will vary based on resources to adequately staff and maintain the athletic academic center.

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