Student-Athlete Handbook

Office of Athletics Academic & Student Development Services

UB Athletics Academic & Student Development Services (AADS) provides opportunities for student-athletes to participate in seminars throughout the year that explore topics such as academic preparation, time management and organization, eligibility rules, and CHAMPS-Life Skills programs.  AADS emphasizes the importance of education to help student-athletes develop the skills necessary to become independent and successful learners.  AADS achieves its mission by providing programs and services to its students in order to facilitate their academic and personal development.  The Office Athletics Academic & Student Development Services assists in the development of its students by promoting scholarly pursuits and academic excellence with integrity.

Academic Enrichment

Academic Services will regularly monitor academic progress toward graduation, as well as analyze student-athlete academic wellness issues.  These issues include, but are not limited to, academic preparation, scheduling, grade and attendance reports, continuing eligibility results and projections, and NCAA, Mid-American Conference (MAC), and UB academic standards.  Athletics Academic Advisors maintain frequent contact with departmental advisors and the Office of the Registrar to ensure those rules and policies are followed in regards to academic progress towards degree and University at Buffalo graduation requirements.

Referral Services

Academic Services assists student-athletes to connect with Division of Athletics and campus support services to accommodate their individual needs.  Staff members work closely with the UB Counseling Services, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs, and other academic, student, and personal support programs to help diagnose and assist student-athletes.

Tutoring

Athlete Academic Services provides opportunities for all student-athletes to acquire the proper study and learning skills and course-specific information through tutoring. Tutors and students work together to develop the independent thinking and learning skills necessary to achieve positive results without compromising the integrity of the educational process.  All tutors are introduced to NCAA rules and regulations, and are closely monitored to ensure that student-athletes are receiving excellent academic assistance.

Bulls Study Center

Athlete Academic Services provides educational and study environments for its student-athletes in the form of learning centers.  Student-athletes are strongly encouraged to utilize the Bulls Study Center as often as necessary to develop the appropriate study and learning skills to become better students.  Study groups, learning strategists, and tutors are also available at these Study Centers.

Academic Celebration

Athlete Academic Services recognizes student-athletes with exceptional academic records at the annual Academic Celebration. University administrators, faculty members, and athletics department personnel gather in celebration of the academic accomplishments of UB student-athletes.

Academic Requirements

A student-athlete’s academic standing and eligibility are determined by two key measurements of coursework attempted and hours earned. They are (1) your progress toward your degree on a semester-by-semester basis and (2) the certifiable hours toward eligibility you earn on the same semester-by-semester basis.

The following are conditions that must be satisfied each year to remain academically eligible for participation in intercollegiate sports. Keep in mind that these are minimum standards and each student-athlete should strive for academic excellence and not merely academic eligibility.

• To be in good standing with the University and the NCAA you must be registered for at least 12 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. Should you ever go below 12 credit hours, for any reason, you immediately become ineligible for both practice and competition. Do not drop a class without first checking with your athletics academic advisor.
• Student-athletes must maintain a certain percentage of degree requirements each year in order to maintain eligibility. The following percentages need to be met:

  Year of Collegiate Enrollment	Requirements Completed
  Third	40%
  Fourth	60%
  Fifth	80%

• You are required to choose a major before the start of your third year of enrollment. Upon beginning your junior year you may not switch from one major to another without the approval of your athletics academic advisor. If you are considering changing your major, please see your athletics academic advisor, as any change may affect your athletic eligibility.
• You have four seasons of eligibility in any one sport and you must complete that eligibility within five years of your first full-time enrollment in any college.

Maintaining academic eligibility for athletic competition is the responsibility of each student-athlete. If you are ineligible as a student-athlete it will likely be because of something you did or failed to do academically. It is your responsibility.

Continuing Athletics Eligibility Requirements

Below are the academic requirements for all UB student-athletes to maintain athletics eligibility.

• pass 6 credit hours each semester
• pass 18 credit hours during the academic year (fall and spring only)
• pass 24 hours prior to the beginning of his/her second year of enrollment
• complete 40% of his/her degree entering the third year of enrollment, 60% entering the fourth year of enrollment and 80% entering the fifth year of enrollment
• stay in good academic standing at the University

There is no limit on the number of summer hours a student may take in order to meet the degree completion requirements.

Sample Eligibility Scenario:
For example, after the fall 2012 semester, if you only passed 4 hours but met every other eligibility standard and you were in good academic standing, you would be ineligible for competition for the spring 2013 semester. Also, you must still need to pass 18 hours for the 2012-2013 academic year and still meet your degree completion requirement, if applicable, and pass 6 hours in the spring 2013 semester to be eligible for the fall 2013 semester.

Academic Probation

Student-athletes placed on academic probation are no longer considered to be in “good academic standing” and are considered by UB and the NCAA to be ineligible for competition. If you are on academic probation, you must meet with your athletics academic advisor to discuss your situation immediately.

The following conditions must be satisfied each semester in order for a student-athlete to avoid UB academic probation and maintain his or her eligibility:

• A minimum cumulative grade point average (for work attempted both at this university and at any other post-secondary institution the student may have attended) of 2.0 or above.
• The student’s cumulative grade point average for work attempted at UB is 2.0 or above.

Timely Progress Toward a Degree

The University at Buffalo considers undergraduate students who have completed a semester or more at UB to be making timely progress toward a degree only if, in addition to meeting the conditions for “good academic standing”:

• GPA for the most recent semester is a minimum of 2.0

Note: Students who are found not making timely progress toward a degree in two or more consecutive semesters are on academic probation and subject to eventual dismissal.

Grading System

Note: Instructors are not obligated to use +/- grades.

How to calculate your grade point average:

• Add the number of letter-graded credit hours attempted each semester.
• Add the number of grade points earned each semester.
• Divide the total grade points by the total number of attempted credit hours

The result is your grade point average.

Sample

Credit Hours Attempted: 15.00
Grade Points: 41.99
Grade Point Average: 2.799
(41.99 divided by 15.00)

Note: After enrollment at UB, classes taken elsewhere that are transferred back to UB DO NOT affect your GPA at UB.

Course Registration

Student-athletes at UB receive special registration privileges. You should schedule an appointment with your team advisor to discuss course selection. Consider the following when planning your schedule:

• Know your scheduling needs as early as possible.
• Take advantage of early or pre-registration (usually the prior semester).
• Research your professors—choose those with outstanding teaching reputations.
• Drop/Add until you get what you want. If you add a class late, catch up promptly.
• Be persistent about getting into the class you want. Talk to the professor. Professors often have the final say of overriding the “closed class” status. Do not let the computer run your academic life.
• Read and understand the college catalog—your education is your responsibility.

* Be aware of the early registration window dates. If you miss this, you will be forced to register based on your class standing.

Student-Athlete Class Attendance Policy

Summary

UB student-athletes are required to attend all scheduled classes. 

• Classes which are in conflict with official athletics-related travel and competition should be brought to the attention of the instructor through official travel notification letters provided by the Athletics Academic Services Office.
• Classes missed due to athletics- related travel, documented illness, or documented personal emergency are exempt from the policy.
• Student-athletes are required to provide the notification letter to the instructor and make arrangements to complete any missed assignments due to athletics-related travel and/or competition.
• Student-athletes are responsible for all assignments, quizzes, or exams missed due to athletics-related travel and/or competition.
• Student-athletes are NOT permitted to miss classes due to practice or community service activities under any circumstance.

Penalties

UB student-athletes in violation of the Student-Athlete Class Attendance Policy are subject to the following penalties (number of classes missed per course):

1^st Reported Absence – Warning message sent to the student-athlete and academic advisor.

2^nd Reported Absence – Notice sent to the student-athlete, head coach,  and academic advisor with warning message that subsequent absences will result in suspension from practice and competition.

3^rd Reported Absence – Notice sent to the student-athlete, head coach, academic advisor, sport administrator, and athletics director of the suspension immediately from practice and competition for the next scheduled competition.

# Contact Academic Services Office if you have any questions #

Missed Class Policy

University at Buffalo Class Absence Policy Adopted 11 December 2001

Alternative Testing Policy

When travel and competition exigencies conflict with scheduled exams, quizzes or presentation, please contact your athletics academic advisor immediately.

Academic Review Board

After the Fall semester grades are available, those students who have fallen below a 2.0 for that semester receive letters to let them know the importance of meeting with the Academic Review Board. The purpose of this meeting is to determine the cause of the students’ difficulties and take steps to correct the situation in order for the student-athlete to achieve academic success. The Academic Review Board is composed of the team academic advisor, as well as other academic advisors, the Director, Compliance staff and coaches.

Drop/Add

Student-athletes cannot add or drop a class without prior approval of your Athlete Academic Advisor. This includes the two-week drop/add period at the beginning of each semester.

Tips for Academic Success

• Attend class. Tests are most often based on material covered in class. If you are going to be away from campus for a game, alert your instructors ahead of time. Get your assignments in advance, if possible, and determine when the work is due. Let your instructor know when you are ill. Your class attendance may be one criteria used by your professor when assigning final grades.
• Go to class prepared. You should have all reading and written assignments completed on time. If you go to class unprepared, it is often difficult to understand the material presented in class. Also, your instructor may tag you as a student with a poor attitude, which may influence your grade.
• Know your instructor. Introduce yourself to your instructor; this is especially important in large section classes. If you have any questions relative to the course, meet with your instructor. Your professor is interested in your performance in the classroom and will generally be happy to discuss material related to your course.
• Make a good impression. Go to class on time. Entering class late causes a disruption. Do not read papers, listen to radios, wear headsets etc., in class.
• Do not let little problems become big problems. If you feel yourself falling behind in class, contact your Athlete Academic Advisor for help. Also, remember, instructors are here to teach. Don’t be afraid to make an appointment and ask questions about material that you don’t understand. Make sure someone knows you need help before you reach the point where you cannot possibly do well in the course.
• Attend study centers. Supervised study center is provided in order to help you develop good study habits and learn the importance of time management. You should set aside at least two hours a day for studying and use your study center constructively.

For more information on developing effective study habits, tips on effective notetaking or for test-taking strategies, contact your Athletic Academic Advisor or stop by the office in Alumni Arena, Room 169.