If upgrades to a stadium or practice facility can yield more victories for a team, what can improvements to academic services do for athletes in the class room?
That’s what Bethune-Cookman University athletic advisors will be finding out in the next few weeks after massive upgrades to study areas and services offered to Wildcat student-athletes.
What was once simply a large computer room is now two designated study areas, one a computer lab with 18 brand new computers, and another a resource center with lobby-style seating and space small group tutorials.
In addition to the physical upgrades, four academic athletic advisors are now in place to serve the student-athletes in all academic needs ranging from registration, tutorial needs and study halls, where every B-CU team with the exception of football converge nightly.
“This area has become a one-stop shop for athletes for their academic needs,” said Marc Lippens, B-CU’s Assistant Athletic Director For Student-Athlete Support. “We’ve made a significant increase in the services offered to give our athletes the best chance for success.”
Study halls used to be coordinated by individual teams, but are now all the responsibility of the Office of Student-Athlete Support (OSAS). The football team holds its study halls over its own building, but under the tutelage of OSAS.
“Having these facilities makes a huge difference,” Lippens said. “Many of our athletes are taking online classes, so coming here and getting the work done is as important as going to class.”
Outside of the computer room is a lobby-style setting that can seat twelve with additional areas for small group tutorials. Here students also have access to all academic programs on the campus.
“All the pertinent information is available,” Lippens said.
The bottom line, in this case, improvement in the athletic department GPA, really won’t come until the end of the semester, but early indications are strong.
“In the progress reports, the number of 'at risk' students is a quite bit smaller,” Lippens said. “The `D’ and `F’ reports are next, but we’re confident about those as well. The students appreciate what we’re providing for them and that means they’ll make more of an effort in their academics.”
