Overall Objectives of Student-Athlete Success Services (SASS)
- To enrich the academic success of student-athletes, with an emphasis on first and second year students
- To reinforce accountability for one's own academic and personal development
- To recognize and celebrate student-athletes’ academic successes
- To build strong relationships among the Department of Athletics, faculty, and staff in order to support student-athlete academics
Responsibility of Student-Athlete:
- Attend all classes. Communicate appropriately with professors regarding class absences due to competition conflicts (must be on the official travel/competition roster to be excused).
- Turn in all assignments and complete all course work in a timely manner (when aware of upcoming class absence or academic conflict, be sure to turn in assignments ahead of time).
- Ask for help and use the resources available to all CNU students.
- Grow intellectually each semester, challenge yourself academically.
- Graduate from CNU.
While it is the University and Department of Athletics’ goal to create an academically supportive environment, it is the student-athlete’s responsibility to become familiar with the academic policies of Christopher Newport University. Participation in athletics is a privilege, and not to be considered an “extenuating circumstance” for not completing coursework. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to regularly communicate with professors regarding his/her class performance, and possible competition conflicts. It is ultimately the student-athlete’s responsibility to work with professors, coaches, and academic support staff to become the best student and athlete he/she can be.
Responsibility of Coaches:
Coaches are asked to support the efforts of the Student-Athlete Success Services and to communicate regularly with SASS staff with regard to their student-athletes’ academic performance. At times, coaches may need to impose their own consequences, and/or support departmental policy regarding consequences for those student-athletes who are not fulfilling their academic obligations. Coaches are also asked to be flexible and communicate practice or travel requirements that may place a student-athlete at an academic disadvantage.
