Athletics Academic Services

Athletics Academic Services works closely with faculty, coaches and other student support services to ensure the academic success of Titan student-athletes.

The mission of Athletics Academic Services is twofold: 
1) to provide effective life skills and academic support services for CSUF student-athletes to encourage timely graduation

2) to ensure student-athletes receive the information they need to be in compliance with institutional and NCAA rules governing continuing eligibility. Academic assistance is provided to all student-athletes through a variety of academic programming and services outlined below:

Academic Advisement
It is mandatory for all new and continuing student-athletes to meet with an Athletics Academic Services Counselor at least once per semester for general education academic advisement. Additionally, once student-athletes have declared a major, they must also meet with their major advisors at least once per semester to ensure they are making satisfactory progress toward graduation in major coursework. Student-athletes are advised to select courses which will not only help them maintain athletics eligibility, but also lead them directly to graduation. Further, the advisement process encourages student-athletes to take ownership of their academic progress and make appropriate decisions regarding their goals.

Academic Counseling
Academic counseling is designed to provide proactive academic monitoring and guidance for student-athletes confronting a variety of academic challenges. Regular individual meetings with Athletics Academic Counselors are designed to facilitate the development of study skills, such as note-taking, effective reading strategies, test preparation, and time management. Referrals to tutoring provided by Athletics Academic Services or other campus resources are made on an individual basis.

Priority Registration
Priority registration helps ensure that student-athletes can develop schedules which will allow them to carry a full class load, make progress toward graduation and compete in their respective sports. All student-athletes, including those who have exhausted their eligibility, receive priority registration. Student-athletes are notified of the first day of priority registration. They are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the priority registration date to ensure that they get the classes they need for graduation and for scheduling purposes.

Tutoring
Tutoring is provided to student-athletes in a variety of ways including:

• University Learning Center (PLN, 2nd Floor; x2738): Tutoring and study groups for all courses. Drop in and appointments.

• Writing Center (PLN, 1st Floor; x3650): Assistance with writing assignments. Drop in and appointments.

• Math Lab & Tutoring Center (MH 187, x3631): Mathematics tutoring on a drop-in basis.

• Opportunity Center for Student Success (MH 488 x4158): Math, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics tutoring on a drop-in basis.

• College of Business and Economics (SGMH 2404 West Pavilion x2704): Accounting, Business Writing, Statistics, Programming and Finance tutoring. Drop in and appointments.

Athletics Academic Services can arrange one-on-one tutoring sessions for more specialized needs.

Athletics Study Hall
The Athletics Study Hall provides a structured learning environment with computers and study tables for student-athletes to work independently on their class assignments. Computer Lab Monitors are on hand to maintain a quality learning environment, record attendance and assist with lab maintenance. All first semester freshmen and student-athletes whose cumulative grade-point average falls below a 2.5 are required to complete mandatory study hall hours each week. Student-athletes that do not meet the above-mentioned criteria may also be required to attend study hall if their Athletics Academic Services counselor and/or coach determine it would facilitate their academic success. The Athletics Study Hall (LH-217) is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Grade Checks
Athletics Academic Services requests mid-semester Academic Grade Checks for every student-athlete at least once per semester. Academic Grade Checks are initiated via an online, web-based program in which individual faculty are prompted to complete a form assessing the academic performance of student-athletes in their class(es). For additional feedback, Athletics Academic Services counselors may request that an individual student-athlete meet with faculty to complete a "hand-carried" Grade Check. This practice encourages student-athletes to communicate directly with faculty concerning their performance in courses and possible strategies to improve their academic success.

This feedback is organized and reviewed by Athletics Academic Counselors and disseminated to the appropriate coaches. If feedback from the Academic Grade Checks indicate a need for academic support and/or tutoring, Athletics Academic Services works with coaches, faculty, and the student-athlete to address concerns and make any necessary referrals and/or plans for improvement.

Awards & Recognition
Titan Athletics, the Big West Conference and the NCAA honor student-athletes who excel academically and athletically. Continuing student-athletes that are enrolled in at least 12 units and achieve a 3.0 average for the preceding spring and fall semesters, along with first semester freshmen and first semester transfer student-athletes that are enrolled in at least 12 units and earn a 3.2 GPA for their first semester, receive the Titan Scholar-Athlete Award. If a student-athlete's semester GPA is a 3.50 or higher for at least 12 units of graded coursework he/she will be place on the University-wide Dean's Honor List for that semester.

University 115
All first-time freshman student-athletes are strongly encouraged to take University 115. University 115 is a one-unit course designed to help student-athletes develop skills in personal, academic, career and community service success. The course is available for interested transfer student-athletes as well.

NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program
The NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program was developed to prepare student-athletes for life challenges beyond the playing field. The program helps student-athletes develop the individual skills necessary to lead successful, productive lives and become leaders and contributors to the community and the nation. The program consists of five components: academic excellence, athletic excellence, career development, personal development, and service, and is designed to help student-athletes not only bridge the gap from high school to college and from college to the professional world, but also to make meaningful contributions to their communities. The program serves as a resource for students who want to explore issues in personal academic service and career development and provides speakers and/or facilitates discussions on other life skills related topics

Missed Class Time
In order to minimize interference with student-athletes' academic programs, coaches will limit organized practice activities, the length of their playing seasons, the number of regular-season contests/ dates of competition, and participation in non-collegiate-sponsored athletics activities. All schedules are reviewed and approved by an appropriate Athletics administrator. No schedules may be created or contests scheduled without the approval of the appropriate sports supervisor. An important purpose of the review is to minimize missed class time. Any excessive class time missed by a team must be approved in advance by the Athletics Advisory Council.

No class time shall be missed for practice activities except when a team is traveling to an away contest and the practice is in conjunction with the contest.

No intercollegiate events may be scheduled during finals week, with the exception of NCAA or Big West Conference post-season competition, which occasionally coincides with finals. Any exception to this policy must have prior approval of the Athletics Advisory Council.

Athletics Academic Services utilizes a "Missed Class Letter" for notifying instructors of competition and travel dates. Student-athletes should submit this letter to each course faculty during the first week of school that their sport is in season. The "Missed Class Letter" includes a sports schedule and dates of classes the student-athlete will miss for away-travel. Student- athletes are responsible for reviewing the syllabus for each course right away to determine what, if any, classes will be missed due to competition-related travel. At this time, student-athletes must discuss conflicts with each course faculty to determine plans for making up missed class time, assignments and/or exams. If there are potential problems, it is imperative that student-athletes speak with their Athletics Academic Counselor, as soon as possible, as students cannot drop and add classes after the second week of class.

Student-athletes are expected to attend every class meeting unless competition, serious injury, or serious illness prevents such attendance. Students who must miss class to represent the University or to participate in a University-sponsored activity must remind the class instructor in writing a minimum of two weeks in advance of the absence. Given prior notice, instructors are encouraged to allow students to make up class work, complete class work in advance of the class absence, or complete an alternative assignment without penalty. In case of a disagreement about whether an activity constitutes a University-sponsored activity, the appropriate administrator will make the determination.

Student-athletes are expected to be on time for every class. If unforeseen circumstances cause a student-athlete to be late or miss the class, he/she should meet the instructor after class or make an appointment to apologize and explain the circumstances.

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
The mission of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience at Cal State Fullerton. SAAC is dedicated to connecting student-athletes to the university and to one another, and providing student-athletes with avenues for voicing opinions and concerns to Athletics and the University.

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee:

Strives to develop champions for life through leadership, school involvement, academic support and community outreach; Establishes and maintains open channels of communication with all student-athletes and administration in order to appropriately express any issues of concern relevant to student-athletes; Gives student-athletes the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of the University and the community as a whole in the hope that they will use their athletic abilities to enhance the lives of others as well as themselves; and Educates student-athletes about rights and regulations that pertain to them in accordance with Conference and NCAA guidelines.

SAAC has two voting representatives from each of the intercollegiate teams, as well as the cheer and dance teams and the student athletic trainers. Each team elects two representatives to the Committee. The team representatives on the Committee elect their board members. All student-athletes are welcome to attend Council meetings and should contact a representative if they have interest or inquiries. At the meetings, representatives discuss matters affecting student-athlete life and welfare, learn about NCAA and Conference rules, and plan events. The Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Athletics Academic Services and the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance serve as Staff Advisor to the Council.

Council meetings are held once per month and are open to all student-athletes.

SAAC members participate in the Big West Conference SAAC (meetings twice per year attended by two officers) and in the NCAA Division I national SAAC.