Student-Athlete Academic Support

The mission of the Office of Student-Athlete Services is to create an environment that will allow student-athletes the opportunity to maximize their academic, personal, and social growth. We recognize that every student-athlete has goals that are fulfilled by both athletic and academic success and that there must be a balance between these two pursuits. As a result, the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services provides a variety of academic support services to help students achieve this balance.

Academic consultation consists of student-athletes meeting on a regular and ongoing basis with the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services. The purpose of these meetings is to communicate regarding progress in coursework, athletic eligibility, and decision-making skills in relation to time management, course and major selection, and career choices. 

Working with the various campus offices is a daily part of the work of the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services. If necessary, the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services will refer student-athletes, and sometimes coaches, to various support services on campus (the Registrar's Office, the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, Housing and Residential Life, the Counseling Center, Student Accessibility Services, and the Career Center).

Class attendance is vital to academic success. Our coaching staff monitor class attendance by doing daily/weekly class checks and provide weekly reports to the Athletic Director and the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services, noting absences and tardies. Often, instructors will provide additional information to the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services regarding the support of our students.

Many of the courses taken at North Carolina Central University require the use of computer technology. The computer lab is a joint effort between Athletics and Academic Affairs, with both athletic funding and Title III funds used to run an effective lab. The McDougald-McLendon computer lab houses 18 units and a printer for students to use during its hours of operation. For research, accessing email, checking blackboard grades, or simply typing papers, the computer lab is an invaluable service available to all students. 

With the amount of classwork being done online coupled with the amount of travel time student-athletes experience each semester, having a laptop to take on the road is essential. Currently, student-athletes can check out laptops from the University when they are traveling for their sport. 

Four times each semester (approximately the fourth, eighth, and twelfth week of the semester), progress reports are sent to instructors on all student-athletes (both scholarship and non-scholarship) to obtain information regarding the current grades and academic status of student-athletes. The Office of Student-Athlete Support Services along with the student-athletes can use this information to formulate strategies to assist student-athletes in their academic endeavors as well as to project continuing eligibility. Progress reports may be sent out more often if deemed necessary by the Office of Student-Athlete Support Services. All of our student-athletes sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver release form allowing the North Carolina Central University Department of Athletics the right to receive this information.

To ensure an environment conducive to studying, particularly for those student-athletes transitioning to North Carolina Central University, participating in structured study table sessions is a requirement for all first-time and transfer student-athletes. For those continuing student-athletes who have academic difficulties (based on cumulative GPA) or who may need additional academic monitoring, the study table provides a structured setting in which to work to improve academic standing.

Our tutorial program is designed with the philosophy that tutoring should be used as a way to achieve success, not a way to prevent failure. Developmental in nature, the tutorial program is available to all student-athletes. The vast majority of sessions are one-on-one; however, group tutoring and group review sessions are common when a large number of student-athletes are enrolled in a particular course or when the group tutoring format is most beneficial. Most tutoring is handled through the Academic Support Center on campus. The Office of Student-Athlete Support Services houses two professional tutors in the McDougald-McLendon computer lab.

NCCU Student-Athlete Support Services
McDougald-McLendon Gym, room 100
919-530-5537

Athletics Computer Lab
McDougald-McLendon Gym, room 122
919-530-6906