Mission Statement

The Cecil College Athletic Department has renewed its commitment to ensuring that all student-athletes receive the full benefits of the educational experience while assuring that participation in community college athletics enhances, rather than detracts from, the realization of achieving academic excellence and student success. The Director of Athletics, in conjunction with the support of College administrators, faculty and staff has established the Student-Athlete Academic Success and Retention Program to assist student-athletes in realizing and maintaining high levels of academic success. Although the primary focus is on academics and the rigors of studying in the community college environment, student-athletes must learn to successfully combine academic and life endeavors along with athletic ones. This is no easy task.

Purpose

The purpose of the Cecil College Student-Athlete Academic Success and Retention Program is to promote the importance of a college education to student-athletes. The program provides educational assistance to achieve “Academic Excellence” and “Student Success” for all student-athletes. It is very important for student-athletes to understand that Cecil College wants to ensure that the student- athletes are working toward a degree program or educational goals that benefits their needs. The program focuses on the student-athlete as a “whole person” so that they may realize their potential as an individual and succeed in college.

Program Goals

1. Improve and develop study skills necessary for college level academic success.
2. Bring about self-discovery and self-realization that is so often lacking in the educational process: A supervised study hall session is established and support staff help student-athletes understand how to determine main points from an instructor's lecture and improve their note-taking abilities.
3. Discover student-athletes of high potential for certain career choices and opportunities: Encourage the student to experience the career and job placement centers. Various career and professional people speak with the athletes about future employment opportunities.
4. Improve retention, graduation, and transfer statistics: Credits attempted, credits completed, and progress toward a degree or transfer program for each student-athlete is monitored.
5. Provide guest speakers to discuss specialized topics.

Study Hall

Mandatory weekly study hall hours must be completed by all entering freshmen, any Student-Athlete enrolled in (Math 091, 092, 093), (COM 091 & EGL 100) and/or (COM 091 & REA 100), and any student-athlete below a 2.50 GPA. A professional tutor closely monitors the study hall during all hours of operation in order to ensure a quiet environment where student-athletes can study or meet with assigned tutors. Student-athletes are encouraged to focus on specific goals in order to use time effectively while working in the study hall. Once a student-athlete has earned a 2.50 GPA or higher, they are released from study hall. If the student-athlete’s GPA falls below a 2.50, he or she is required to return to study hall for the following semester.

Academic Monitoring System

Several times during each semester, progress reports are circulated to all Cecil College faculty who are instructing student-athletes. These reports offer instructors the forum to comment on student-athletes' class attendance and participation, timely and accurate completion of assignments, and a brief evaluation of the student-athletes' overall performance. This feedback is critical in enabling the Athletic Academic Coordinator to monitor academic progress on a semester-to-semester basis while simultaneously monitoring continued progress towards degree attainment. Student-athletes who receive unsatisfactory progress reports will be required to participate in various workshops and seminars designed to enhance their academic successes.

Academic Advising

The Athletic Academic Advisor is dedicated, along with the rest of the academic support staff, to providing comprehensive services to ensure a successful student-athlete experience academically, personally, vocationally and athletically. The Athletic Academic Coordinator offers a variety of services and programs designed to assist student-athletes in their quest for academic success. The Athletic Academic Advisor will be available, throughout the academic year, to meet with student-athletes who are in need of academic advising. The Athletic Academic Advisor will assist student-athletes in choosing classes and assessing progress towards degree attainment.

Study Skills Workshops

Throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, various study skills workshops will be offered to the student-athletes. These workshops have been designed to assist student-athletes in such areas as time management, stress management, networking with faculty, note taking and term-paper writing, and exam preparation, just to name a few.