SABRE
CENTRE
Brought to you by: Academic
Services for Student Athletes
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Academic
Services for Student Athletes
The University of Central Florida has made it a goal to develop a student’s athletic
success as well as their academic success. Academic Services for Student
Athletes (ASSA) helps provide the resources and advice so that student athletes
can better achieve success.
ASSA has advisors that work with specific teams so they can better assist the
athletes as well as the team. Advisors guide students in choosing courses,
majors, and arranging tutoring, if needed. The advisor also provides a
contact between the student athletes’ professor and the student athlete to help
arrange coursework while a student is out of town for away games.
In keeping with the mindset of creating a successful person, both during and
after college, ASSA provides opportunities to equip student athletes with life
skills. These opportunities range from Habitat for Humanity to workshops
about nutrition.
ASSA is dedicated to the
success of its student-athletes both athletically and academically.
For more information please visit
http://www.assa.sdes.ucf.edu
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Knights’
Herald Orientation
To help make the transition from being a student athlete at another institution
to becoming a Knight, ASSA has created the Knights’ Herald Orientation for all
new student athletes. The Knights’ Herald began in 2002 and aides student
athletes in becoming familiar with NCAA as well as the UCF campus and community.
It is at this time that student athletes are able to become familiar with UCF
life as well as meet other student athletes. The orientation lasts a full day
with lunch provided. By giving students the information they need, student
athletes are better equipped to successfully meet the challenges of intercollegiate
athletics and collegiate academics.
For more information please visit
http://www.assa.sdes.ucf.edu
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Tutoring
Program
To help facilitate academic success, Academic Services for Student Athletes has
provided great financial support for a student athlete tutoring program.
Through an ASSA advisor, a student athlete may request a tutor for specific subjects.
Student athletes are tutored in both individual and group settings.
The objective of the tutoring program is to assist the student beyond their
other educational practices (note-taking, staying current with the assigned
reading, completing homework, class attendance, class participation, and preparing
for class assessments) that are critical for academic success. Effective
educational practices, as well as time management, are further emphasized to
better equip student athletes with the challenges of a demanding schedule and
time constraints. Students are expected to participate in study sessions
and come prepared with materials, reviewing the materials, and questions for
the tutor. By providing academic assistance, student athletes feel more
confident in their coursework and are able to achieve academic accomplishment.
For more information please visit
http://www.assa.sdes.ucf.edu
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LANCE
Program
(Learning Academics Now Comes
Easier)
LANCE is an academic program designed to assist the student-athlete
in focusing on developing a foundation for success in college. The program collaborates
with all colleges and resources on campus to provide maximum support for the student-athlete
in their academic, personal and career development. Any student athlete is able
to enroll in this program; however, priority is given to those with a documented
disability.
LANCE provides individual and group study sessions, which include direct contact
with the Learning Specialist or trained graduate assistant to mentor those student-athletes
with specialized needs. It also includes direct services provided by Student Disability
Services (SDS) and Academic Services for Student-Athletes (ASSA).
For more information on this program please contact your athletic academic advisor
or the learning specialist located in the SABRE Centre.
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University
Academic Coursework
Strategies for
College Success (SLS 1501)
Strategies
for College Success is a three credit course that is offered to all freshman
at UCF. Academic Services for Student Athletes reserves several sections
specifically to fit the needs of student athletes. The advisors in ASSA
teach these sections. The content of SLS 1501 focuses on tools to succeed
in college, learning about campus resources, and the rules of NCAA. Topics
discussed in class include study skills, diversity, time management, nutrition,
stress management, career information, campus resources, and NCAA regulations.
At the end of the course students are outfitted with personal relations with
their professors and advisors, effective study skills, and knowledge of the
NCAA policies that govern his/her sport. By providing first year students
with success skills, they are able to apply them throughout their college career.
For more information please visit
http://www.assa.sdes.ucf.edu
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National
Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS)
The mission
of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports at the University of Central
Florida is to help create a better society by focusing on educational attainment
and using the power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change in
the Central Florida Community. The NCAS reaches this mission by providing outreach
and community service activities for UCF’s student-athletes to participate
in within the Orlando Community.
Student-athletes and staff participate
in visits to Florida Children’s Hospital, serve at Orlando’s Coalition
for the Homeless, volunteer at the Salvation Army Women and Children’s Living
Center, read books at elementary schools for the Storybook Knights Program, act
a buddies for mentally and physically disables athletes in The Miracle League,
visit schools for Red Ribbon Week, Celebrity Reader Week and National Reader Week,
volunteer for Special Spectators and visit Orange County Public School’s
Transition Class for mentally and physically disabled students.
In addition, the NCAS creates programs
in the community that teach middle and high school students about diversity, conflict
resolution, gender violence prevention, leadership and anti-Semitism utilizing
current and former specially trained athletes as workshop leaders.
For more information contact Suzi Katz, Director Wayne Densch Center, Suite 110,
(407) 823-5243
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NCAA
CHAMPS-Life Skills Program
As sited
on the Life Skills website: the mission of the NCAA is to maintain intercollegiate
athletics as an integral part of the campus educational program and the athlete
as an integral part of the student body. With this in mind, the CHAMPS/Life
Skills Program was created to support the student development initiatives of
its member institutions and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience
within the university setting.
In the process of achieving this mission, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program will:
• Support efforts of every student-athlete toward intellectual development
and graduation.
• Use athletics as preparation for success in life.
• Meet the changing needs of student-athletes.
• Promote respect for diversity among student-athletes.
• Enhance interpersonal relationships in the lives of student-athletes.
• Assist student-athletes in building positive self-esteem.
• Enable student-athletes to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
• Promote ownership by the student-athletes of their academic, athletic,
personal and social responsibilities.
• Enhance partnerships between the NCAA, member institutions and their
communities for the purpose of education.
• Encourage the development of leadership skills.
For more information please visit http://www.1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/champs-life_skills/index.html
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Textbook
Loan/Return Policies
To better equip student athletes in the academic setting, the University of Central
Florida has created a textbook loan system. UCF student athletes are loaned
textbooks for all of their courses. At the beginning of each semester, student
athletes are given a specific time and date that they can pick up their class
schedule. Students should bring their student ID and a copy of their course
schedule. At the end of the semester, student athletes are required to return
the books in good condition. If there is any damage or book loss, the student
athlete will be billed. Some students find it helpful to save their textbooks,
therefore, the Athletic Compliance Office will bill the student at fair market
value, as determined by the University Bookstore.
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Class
Attendance
For students to succeed in the academic
environment, student athletes at UCF are expected to attend all of their classes
on a daily basis at the regularly scheduled times.
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Student-Professor
Relationships
It is important for student athletes to build a good repertoire with each of their
professors. If nothing else, this can be achieved by being present in class
on a consistent basis. This will also demonstrate to the professor that
student athletes at UCF are serious about their sport as well as their academics.
By developing a student-professor relationship, a student is more apt to ask questions
and seek clarification on assignments and concepts.
In the beginning of the semester, meet with the instructor and discuss the requirements
of earning an “A” in that course. Strive to meet those requirements.
Although it is not always feasible for a student to make an “A”, the professor
will notice that the student athlete is putting forth effort to achieve good
grades. If a student athlete is having problems completing an assignment
on time, let the professor know prior to the due date. The student athlete
should seek clarification and see if it is possible to make a new due date-
be sure to meet the new deadline. Remember professors as well as student
athletes are busy individuals, so seek help early! Do not wait until your
grade begins to slip!
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Travel
Excuses
Each ASSA advisor works closely with the head coach to provide official written
permission that a student athlete will be missing class time to represent UCF
in an intercollegiate athletic competition. At the beginning of each term,
an ASSA advisor contacts the professors of each student athlete by letter detailing
the dates a student will be absent due to competition or travel. Both the
professor and student athlete are made aware that the professor is required to
allow a student to make up coursework or exams when a student athlete is absent
due to competition. The make up date could be before
or after a student is absent. Ultimately, it is the responsibility
of the student athlete to speak with the professor prior
to team travel as well as make up the required missed assignments. It is
encouraged to meet with each student athlete’s professors before travel to clear
up any instructions or due dates the student may have in the course.
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Calculating
Your GPA
As stated in the Undergraduate Catalog, the Grade Point Average (GPA)
is the average number of grade points per semester hour attempted. GPA
is computed by dividing the total number of grade points assigned by the total
number of semester hours attempted, less hours resulting from NC, W, WP, and
I grades. The GPA graduation requirement is a minimum UCF 2.0 (“C”).
For example:
Class
Hours
Grade/Pts
Total Pts
Biology
1005
3
B+/3.25
9.75
Biology
Lab
1
A /4.00
4.00
English
1101
3
B-/2.75
8.25
Algebra
1105
3
A-/3.75
11.25
Psychology
2012 3
B /3.00
9.00
Total
42.25 Points
42.25 Grade Points divided by 13
hours = 3.25 GPA
The UCF GPA Calculator is available at
http://www.sarc.sdes.ucf.edu/gpacalculator.html
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Summer
School Attendance
Summer school attendance may be used to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress according
to NCAA regulations. However, only twenty-five percent of a students’ minimum
number of semester or quarter hours can be used for the minimum number of semester
hours required for satisfactory progress can be taken during the summer (Bylaw
14.4.3.1.3). In addition, summer financial aid may be awarded only to attend
the awarding institution’s summer term provided the athlete has been in residence
a minimum of one term or is a transfer student and is receiving aid to attend
the awarding institution’s summer-orientation program. Summer
school scholarships are not gaurenteed for any student athlete who is on an athletic
scholarship.
Students who wish to take courses at another institution must receive prior
approval by academic officials to determine the student’s academic status.
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Athletic-Academic
Recognition
The University of Central
Florida likes to celebrate success, both athletically and academically. For National
Student Athlete Day, Academic Services for Student Athletes along with the National
Consortium for Academics and Sports recognize outstanding student athletes who
have excelled in the classroom as well as out in the community.
Academic
Services for Student Athletes also have a luncheon for all of the graduating seniors
and their family during commencement. At this time the seniors are give their
“senior rings” as well as a certificate of achievement and appreciation
for all of their hard work throughout their years at UCF.
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Vacation
Employment for Student Athletes
Although
there is no direct office at UCF to aid students in finding vacation employment
for Student Athletes, there is a group that helps student athletes find jobs.
The UCF Competitive Resources Group is made up of former athletes who are now
working in the business field and have strong connections to business leaders.
This group aids student-athletes, especially business majors, in preparing for
the world of work as well as finding jobs.
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Student-Athletic
Advisory Committee
The Student-Athletic Advisory Committee is mandated by the NCAA. It has
three levels, the National SAAC, Conference SAAC, and institution SAAC.
It is made up of two student-athletes from each team, and is led by Ms. Stano
from the SABRE Centre. The student-athletes serve as a liaison between the
athletes and the school. The SAAC Committee also provides more cohesion
among the student-athletes by providing community service opportunities, linking
brother and sister teams, and providing fun activities, like breakfasts, to allow
student-athletes to get to know one another. Student-athletes wanting to
get involved should be in good academic standing and want to take on a leadership
role in the athletics at the University of Central Florida. To learn more
about how to become a part of this committee please consult your advisor from
Academic Services for Student Athletes.