Open AccessAcademic Success: Perceptions of Student-Athletes, Learning Specialists, and Academic Advisors
Author(s) -
Lauren Kirby,
Patricia Amason
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of higher education athletics and innovation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2376-5267
DOI - 10.15763/issn.2376-5267.2020.1.7.33-60
Subject(s) - learning development , psychology , athletes , medical education , perception , academic achievement , work (physics) , higher education , pedagogy , medicine , mechanical engineering , engineering , neuroscience , political science , law , physical therapy
The current study explores how academic success is defined and perceived by student-athletes and athletic academic support staff professionals, specifically learning specialists and academic advisors. Using qualitative methods, one-on-one interviews were conducted with participants from six “Power 5” programs to establish overarching themes. Academic advisors identified academic achievement and personal development as academic success. Learning specialists identified academic success as maximizing individual potential. Student-athletes identified meeting grade-based standards and work ethic resulting in reaching personal goals as academic success for themselves. Student-athletes also perceived that their advisor would identify eligibility and effort as academic success, and that their learning specialist would view academic success as building academic skills and work ethic.