The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics recognizes the unique needs of student-athletes in regards to academic support at the University of Toledo. Academic staff provide a variety of services to assist student-athletes with their academic progress. Services include guidance with orientation, course scheduling, targeting (a time management program), study table, individualized and group tutoring.

Academic Advising
UT student-athletes meet with two advisers: one in their academic program and their team’s academic coordinator in the Rocket Academic Center. Both advisers work together to assist the student-athlete with creating balanced course schedules that meet degree requirements and that will not interfere with athletic commitments. The academic center maintains files on all student-athletes to monitor academic performance, NCAA athletic eligibility and progress toward graduation. All tracking information (targeting reports, tutorial feedback, academic progress reports from faculty, eligibility data, and college advising documentation) is kept on file and communicated to coaches regularly.

Tutoring
Tutorial assistance is available to all student-athletes through both the Rocket Academic Center and the University’s Learning Enhancement Center (LEC). Tutoring in the academic center is funded by the athletic department and is free to all student-athletes. The academic center employs a learning specialist who focuses on writing and study strategies. The learning specialist also coordinates the Academic Coach Program, a core group of volunteer professionals in business and education from the local community who offer their assistance in math, science, economics, business, social science and humanities. Students can also visit the LEC, which has offices in both the Carlson Library and at the Scott Park campus. Tutoring at both locations is available to all UT students free of charge.

Targeting
Targeting is a time management and organizational program designed for freshmen, new transfer students and returning students who are not performing up to their potential academically. Student-athletes meet weekly or biweekly with their academic coordinator for thirty minutes to discuss their academic progress, upcoming assignments, eligibility issues and academic and career planning. The goal of this program is to model time management skills and develop a comprehensive plan to assist the student-athlete in the transition from high school to college.

NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program
The NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program offers programming to cultivate student-athletes’ lives in five main areas: academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, career development, and commitment to service. Created in 1991, Life Skills Programs at NCAA member institutions are supported nationally through the promotional and financial efforts of the NCAA Foundation, the NCAA and the Division I-A Athletic Directors’ Association.

At the University of Toledo, the Director of CHAMPS/Life Skills coordinates events in the areas of community outreach through the "Rockets ‘Round Town" program, career planning through our collaboration with career services on campus, and personal development. Additionally, a bimonthly newsletter is published and distributed to coaches, administrators and student-athletes to promote programming and to recognize our student-athletes’ accomplishments in the classroom, in sport, and in life.

 









Drew Scales
Asst. AD/Academics














Stacy Bowers
Academic Coordinator














Sue Irmen
Director of Life Skills














Laura Johnson
Learning Specialist