The Athletic Academic Services office is located in HPELS (Jaguar Gym) Room 1100. The HPELS Building is at the corner of South Drive and Jaguar Drive.
Mailing Address
Athletic Academic Services
MC 1209
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL 36688-0002
STAFF
Linda Pereira, Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services 460-7340
Patricia Johnson Academic Advisor 461-1415
Elizabeth Wood, Academic Advisor 460-7341
Yolanda Steele, Academic Advisor 460-7122
Office of Athletic Academic Services for Student-Athletes
Currently located in HPELS 1100, the Athletic Academic Services Office was established to provide a support program which would assist student athletes in their efforts toward educational achievement and timely progress toward their degrees. A broad based program has been designed to ensure that each student-athlete has the opportunity to excel in the classroom, as well as in his or her sport. The program promotes initiative, independence and success in achieving educational, personal and social goals. There is an underlying emphasis on development of the total person. The program is operated in such a way as to take advantage of the rich support provided by the University of South Alabama in pursuit of excellence.
.
Academic Advising Office Responsibilities
- Maintain and facilitate communication between you as a student-athlete, your parents, coaches, and faculty.
- Provide an atmosphere in which you will feel comfortable and are able to interact honestly.
- Help you to see yourself in a positive way.
- Provide motivation in a constructive manner.
- Help you turn your failures and frustrations into positive gains and build upon past successes.
- Ensure that you receive, in a timely manner, the academic assistance that you need.
- Assist you at all times in your satisfactory progress toward a degree.
- Communicate with the Director of Athletics, the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative, the NCAA Compliance Officer and your coaches concerning your academic progress.
0rientation
University orientation is considered mandatory for all freshman and transfer students.
Orientation information is sent upon acceptance to the university. The athletic department has a brief orientation for all freshmen and transfer student-athletes each fall semester.
Admissions Tracking
The Athletic Academic advising staff works with the coaching staff, the compliance officer and the admissions office to facilitate the admission of incoming South Alabama student-athletes. This process recognizes and minimizes problems associated with the certification of student-athletes’ initial eligibility.
Advising
Upon entering the University of South Alabama as a new student-athlete, you will be assigned a faculty advisor. You will find that your relationship with your faculty advisor is an important one. You are also assigned an athletic advisor who will review your schedule with you and, if necessary, make suggestions regarding NCAA and Sun Belt compliance. Your faculty advisor and your athletic advisor will work together to give you the best possible assistance in regard to your academic career.
Drop-Add
Add classes before the third day of the term. Drop classes prior to the date listed in the Bulletin. You will need permission from an athletic academic advisor any time you drop a class or withdraw.
QMS
The QMS Athletic Academic Center is a facility dedicated entirely to the athletic academic advising program. The center gives South Alabama student-athletes the opportunity to achieve their full potential academically. QMS is equipped with upgraded computers, library tables, study carrels and laser printers.
QMS Study Lab Hours
Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tutoring
Group and individual tutoring is available to all student-athletes regardless of GPA.
Tutors are provided in the study labs and are also available on an individual basis.
Request a tutor by signing up for these services in the Athletic Academic Services Office.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TUTORING FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, PLEASE CALL 460-7340 FOR INFORMATION.
Compliance and Eligibility
In order to be eligible to practice and compete during each academic year, student-athletes must make satisfactory academic progress. Eligibility for the current year is based on work completed during the prior academic year. Compliance and eligibility can be very confusing. Below is an oversimplified explanation of the requirements. (If you started college after the fall of 2003, these new rules apply to you. If you started before that date, you are governed by the old rules. See the Athletic Academic Services Office for an explanation as to how these rules apply to you.
You must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester in order to participate in either practice or competition.
You must pass a minimum of 24 hours of acceptable credit toward a degree during the previous academic year or two semesters immediately preceding competition.
Fulfillment of Credit-Hour requirements and eligibility for competitions shall be determined based upon satisfactory completion of at least:
· 24 semester or 36 hours of academic credit prior to the start of the student-athletes second year of collegiate enrollment
· 18 semester or 36 quarter hours of academic credit since the beginning of the previous fall term or since the beginning of the certifying institution’s preceding regular two semesters or three quarters (hours earned during the summer may not be used to fulfill this requirement); and
· Six semester or six quarter hours of academic credit the preceding regular academic term (e.g., fall semester winter quarter) in which the student-athlete has been enrolled full time at any collegiate institution ( see Bylaw 14.1.10.1 for postseason certification).
NOTE: At least 75% of the hours earned for athletic eligibility must be earned during the regular academic year. A maximum of 25% may be earned during the summer terms.
You must officially declare a degree program by the start of your 5th semester (3rd year) of enrollment. Once you have declared a degree program, all course work taken thereafter should be applicable to that degree program.
You are required to successfully complete a proportion of the total hours required for your degree by the start of designated semesters in order to be eligible for competition.
· By the start of year two 24 semester/36 quarter hours with 1.8 grade point average.
· By the start of year three 40% of degree completed with 1.9 grade point average.
· By the start of year four 60% of degree completed with 2.0 grade point average.
· By the start of year five 80% of degree completed with 2.0 grade point average
· Only six hours of remedial work can be used for satisfactory progress during the freshman year. After the first two semesters, no remedial work is countable as satisfactory progress hours.
· All students must pass at least six hours each term to retain eligibility.
· All incoming students must pass at least 18 semester/27 quarter hours during the regular academic year.
· For students having entered school after Fall 2003, GPA requirements are applicable at the end of each semester.
For a more detailed explanation of compliance rules, please see the Compliance Officer located in the Mitchell Center 1209.
CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY
The department of athletics may prohibit a student-athlete from participation in athletic competition, practice, athletically related services and possibly withhold athletically related financial aid and athletic awards at the University of South Alabama for any violations of local, state, federal or University laws that may lead to arrest and or conviction.
Special note: Student-athletes must be concerned with any behavior that might embarrass themselves, their teams, and/or the University. This includes activities conducted online.
· Before participating in any online community, understand that anything posted online is available to anyone on the planet. Any text or photo placed online ? even if you limit access to your site.
· Do not post information, photos, or other items online that could embarrass you, your team or the University. This includes information, photos and items that may be posted by others on your page.
· Be aware of who you add as a friend to your site ? many people are looking to take advantage of student-athletes, while others want to get close to student-athletes to give them a sense of membership in the team.
· Exercise caution as to what information you post on your website about your whereabouts or plans. You could be opening yourself up to predators such as stalkers, rapists and thieves.
· The university, including coaches and administrators, has the right to monitor these web sites.
· Student-athletes could face discipline and even dismissal for violation of the standards or philosophies of the University, the Athletics Department and/or the NCAA.