Seattle University Athletics 101

The Seattle Univesity Athletic Department Mission and Core Values

A.   Mission Statement

To champion the holistic development of student-athletes inspiring a vital and engaged campus community through the development and maintenance of a premier, nationally prominent NCAA Division I athletics program, in the spirit of the Jesuit tradition.

B.   Mission in Action

• To provide an outstanding, highly competitive athletic experience for student-athletes.
• To promote and support a vital and engaged campus community in a manner that embraces diversity and inclusion. 
• To create an athletic culture where student-athletes can realize balanced success in academics, athletics and in all their collegiate pursuits.
• To encourage student-athletes to engage the greater community through meaningful service activity.
• To establish an environment which develops and supports ethical leadership, respect, teamwork, sportsmanship, and community.

C.   Core Values

Compliance Corner:

• Extra Benefits: An extra benefit is any special arrangement by an institutional employee or a representative of the institution’s athletics interests to provide a student-athlete or the student-athlete’s relatives or friends a benefit that is not available to all other students or members of the general public. Receipt of a benefit by student-athletes or their relatives or friends is not a violation of NCAA legislation if it is objectively demonstrated that the same benefit is generally available to the institution’s students or their relatives or friends, or to a particular segment of the student body (e.g., foreign students, minority students, etc.) determined on a basis unrelated to athletics ability.
  • A student-athlete who accepts what is considered to be an extra benefit forfeits his/her eligibility for competition. Examples of extra benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • Receiving anything at a free or reduced cost based on the status as a student-athlete;
    • Having a paper typed by someone;
    • Accepting tickets, meals, a snack or anything from a booster;
    • Receiving a loan from a coach, administrator, or booster;
    • Using a University vehicle, unless related to practice or competition; and
  • These are just a few examples of items considered “extra benefits”. If you have questions about what might be considered an extra benefit, PLEASE ask first, because a student-athlete's eligibility could be at risk!

• NCAA Links: NCAA.org

Highlights from the 2010-2011 Academic Year:  Student-Athlete GPA (All Teams) of 3.18

Meet Your Faculty Athletics Representative: Sarah Bee

Academic Advising: The Role of the Advisor

The NCAA requires that each student-athlete make satisfactory progress toward earning his/her degree to remain eligible to participate in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. While it is ultimately the responsibility of the student-athlete to make sure he/she meets all eligibility requirements, the academic advisor plays an important role in helping student-athlete's maintain eligibility by being informed on and following guidelines that will help to ensure that student-athletes are in compliance with NCAA academic eligibility regulations.

Who to Talk to About Student-Athlete Academic Issues

Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support, engelhardte@seattleu.edu, x5603, or Sarah Bee, Faculty Athletics Representative, bees@seattleu.edu, x5788. For any basketball related issues, contact JoAnn Hulbert-Eagan at hulbertj@seattleu.edu, x2365.

Checklist for Advising Student-Athletes

When advising a student-athlete, please make sure the student-athlete has completed the following checklist:

• Has notified you of his/her athletic status and the quarters he/she will be in competition.
• Has informed you of proposed practice times for class scheduling purposes.

To comply with NCAA requirements, the advisee:  

• Is planning a course load of at least 12 credits (the minimum number for full-time status).
• Has earned a passing grade for 36 credits towards a degree over FQ, WQ, SQ & Summer.
• Is maintaining a cumulative 2.0 grade point average or higher.
• Is meeting the Division I Percentage of Degree Requirements-40%/60%/80% after years 2/3/4 ***

Other Considerations the Advisor Should Think About:

• Grade Point Averages: If a student-athlete's grade-point average is putting him/her at risk of losing NCAA eligibility, shortly after quarter grades have been posted, the Athletics office will send notifications to advisors of any advisees who are at risk. Please encourage these students to take advantage of campus learning specialists, study resources, tutoring and quarterly skill-building workshops.

• Competition Related Class Absences: Faculty members receive Class Absence Notification letters from the Athletics office informing them of all competition related absences during the quarter for student-athletes in their class.

• Adding or Dropping Classes: If a student-athlete adds or drops a class following initial registration, he/she must notify Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Support.
  

• Changing Majors: If a student-athlete decides to change majors refer students to Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support. Changes in a degree program can affect a student-athlete's NCAA eligibility depending on what courses transfer from the former major and what new course requirements there are. *** The 40/60/80 Percentage-Toward-Degree requirement will be an important consideration.

• Summer Courses: If a student-athlete is taking summer school classes at another institution he/she must obtain written prior approval from the Registrar and notify Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support.

• Declaration of Major Requirements: Student-athletes must officially declare a degree program by the start of their 7th quarter (prior to their third academic year). Once he/she has declared a degree program, all course work taken thereafter should be applicable to that degree program.

• Education Abroad Opportunities and Challenges: Each year a handful of student-athletes travel abroad. There are real financial and eligibility concerns that make it essential for student-athletes to understand before traveling abroad. Student-athletes should consult with both Education Abroad and their coach early in the planning stages for any experience away from Seattle U.
  

Responsibilities of the Student-Athlete (Outlined in the Student-Athlete's Handbook)

• Part-Time: Student-athletes who desire to drop below 12 credit hours must get approval from Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support or JoAnn Hulbert-Eagan, Academic Performance Coordinator.

• Class Attendance: Because a student-athlete is excused from classes that coincide with travel dates, it is essential that student-athletes attend all classes (not leave classes early, or arrive to classes late) that do not conflict with the competition schedule.
  • If a professor has a concern about a class a student-athlete will be missing, it is important that the professor immediately begin to work directly with the student-athlete to find an acceptable solution. If they are still unable to find a solution, they are to contact Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support.
  • It is the student-athlete's responsibility to assure that arrangements have been made to resolve missed exams, quizzes, or assignments far in advance of a travel date. It is strongly recommended that all class work which will be missed due to competition be made up in advance of the contest.
  • It is the student-athlete's responsibility to remind their professors of upcoming competitions conflicting with class.

What is APR? - Academic Progress Rate

In response to the delayed graduation rate information, the NCAA sought a more immediate snapshot of a team's progress of graduating student-athletes. APR is a term by term measure of student-athlete retention and eligibility. Two points are awarded for each student-athlete who is eligible and retained each quarter. These points are totaled for a team APR.

• Who counts: Everyone on athletic aid-including 5th year and medical redshirts.
• What counts: For eligibility, anyone would be eligible for the next term; For retention, anyone enrolled on the census date next term.
• When does it count: Each term counts separately.

Penalties may be given to teams which fall below a 930 score (out of 1,000). Penalties include loss of scholarships, recruiting visits, and decreases of practice times per week. Public recognition of high and low APR scores is announced annually.

Quick "In Season": Reference Guide:

Fall Quarter "in season" - Soccer, Volleyball, Cross-Country, Tennis (early), Golf (early), Swimming (late), and Basketball (late), Baseball (non-championship), Softball (non-championship)

Winter Quarter "in season" - Basketball, Swimming, Indoor Track, Tennis, Baseball (late), Softball (late), and Golf (late)

Spring Quarter "in season" - Baseball, Softball, Golf, Tennis, Outdoor Track, Soccer (non-championship)

For the Faculty Member:

• Class Absence Policy: The Seattle University Class Absence Policy is available here. Additionally, the travel schedules for all student-athletes during the current academic term can be found here. 
  
• Progress Reporting: Formal Progress Reports are sent the fourth week of classes. However, should you have concerns about excessive absences or student-athlete behavioral or academic issues, please contact Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support, at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Question: I have a student-athlete in my class who is struggling academically, what should I do?

Answer: Contact the athletic department as soon as an issue is recognized. Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support can be reached at engelhardte@seattleu.edu or extension 5603.

2. Question: A Coach called me to discuss a student-athlete in my class, what do I tell him or her?

Answer: Please be advised, a coach should not be contacting any faculty members directly regarding student-athlete academic success. Thus, if you receive a phone call from a coach inquiring about a student-athlete in your class, please refer them to discuss their concerns with Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support.

3. Question: What are the bounds of what I can or cannot provide for a student-athlete?

Answer: Student-Athletes should not be provided ANY extra benefits. Please refer to the NCAA website for the current legislation regarding extra benefits. In general, an extra benefit is anything that is given to a student-athlete that is not available to all students.

4. Question: Who should I reach out to if I have more specific questions?

Answer: For academic issues, or other student-athlete wellness inquiries, please contact Erin Engelhardt, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support at engelhardte@seattleu.edu or extension 5603. For compliance issues, or NCAA rules inquiries, please contact Shawn Farrell, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at farrells@seattleu.edu or (206) 427-5579.

5. Question: I am an academic advisor, is there anything I should be cognizant of when advising student-athletes?

Answer: Absolutely. As an advisor, it is important to recognize that a student-athlete has different constraints when it comes to their course selections. Advisors should take into account NCAA progress toward degree requirements (outlined above), practice schedules, and travel schedules, to create quarterly schedules that are in harmony with both the student-athlete's academic and athletic goals.

6. Question: What is the UNSAW Student-Athlete No Withdrawal hold on student accounts?

Answer: Student-Athletes are required to stay at or above 12 credits. Thus, a hold is placed on their student accounts to advise faculty, advisors, and administrators that the student-athlete must receive Athletic Department approval to drop below the required course load. During the add/drop period, advisors or other personnel may manually adjust a student's schedule as long as the adjustment does not drop the student-athlete below 12 credits.