Information for Current Student-Athletes
The Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes (ASP) is a service of American University's Academic Support Center in collaboration with the Department of Athletics. The ASP assists student-athletes as they work to reach their academic, athletic, personal, and social goals, while also promoting excellence, responsibility, and personal initiative. Connecting students to the rich resources and facilities at American University, ASP staff members focus on the development of the total person.
What services are available for student-athletes?
Guided Study: A proactive monitoring program, which identifies student-athletes who may confront a variety of challenges either in their transition to AU or as upperclass students. Student-athletes selected for guided study meet weekly with an academic support counselor to develop study skills, including time management, in order to effectively balance their academic and athletic commitments. All student-athletes are welcome to schedule a guided study appointment.
Study Hall: All first-year and transfer student-athletes are required to attend study hall in the library during their first semester at American University. Once student-athletes demonstrate successful academic progress, as defined by their team, student-athletes manage their own study time. At any point in their academic career, student-athletes may again be required to attend study hall if their grades fall below team standards.
TALONS: Thinking and Learning Opportunities for New Student-Athletes. This workshop series addresses relevant topics for new student-athletes in an interactive workshop format. Workshops are designed to help first-year and transfer student-athletes understand and cope with academic, social, athletic, and personal pressures related to being a student-athlete. The goal of TALONS is to offer practical strategies and information to help student-athletes adjust to academics and athletics at AU.
Progress Reports: In order to identify when a student-athlete may need academic support, progress reports are distributed to professors at the mid-point of the semester. Professors are asked to indicate the students' progress and current grade. Progress reports are returned to the ASP office and shared with coaches and student-athletes.
Peer Tutoring: The ASP also provides individual peer tutors for student-athletes. A student should contact the ASP office to request a tutor as soon as there is a concern about course material. In addition to individual tutoring, referrals to other campus resources, such as the Writing Lab, the Writing Center, and the Mathematics & Statistics Tutoring Lab, may be provided.
What is priority registration?
Beginning with the second semester of enrollment, student-athletes receive priority registration. When student-athletes register early, class and practice conflicts can be minimized. Student-athletes must follow all registration procedures set by their academic unit.
What should I do if I miss class due to athletic competition or travel?
Sometimes that is unavoidable. Student-athletes should do their best to register for classes that limit the number of absences required for competitions. At the beginning of each semester, the ASP issues travel letters for student-athletes to give to their professors. These letters provide a basis for a student-athlete's discussion with each professor about potential academic/athletic conflicts.
When an absence occurs, it is the student-athlete's responsibility to follow up about the missed class session and get notes from a classmate.
What happens if I miss an exam or a paper is due?
Student-athletes are expected to turn in papers before leaving for team travel or make arrangements with the professor to turn it in electronically. If a student-athlete is going to miss an exam due to team travel, they must discuss it with the professor prior to the scheduled exam date. If the professor prefers, the ASP office can proctor the exam provided that arrangements are made prior to the student-athlete's travels.
Who has access to the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes?
All varsity student-athletes can take advantage of the services offered by the ASP. The program is free of charge for all student-athletes.
