K-State-based National Academic Advising Association and the NCAA partner to support student-athletes

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Sources: Roberta Flaherty, 785-532-7815, flaherty@k-state.edu;
and Mike Holen, 785-532-5525, mholen@k-state.edu

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

K-STATE-BASED NATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISING ASSOCIATION AND THE NCAA PARTNER TO SUPPORT STUDENT-ATHLETES

MANHATTAN -- The National Academic Advising Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association have established a partnership to further student-athlete development and academic success.

The goal of the partnership is supporting recent NCAA academic reform efforts, according to Roberta Flaherty, executive director of the National Academic Advising Association. The advising association's executive offices are based at the Kansas State University College of Education.

The partnership will add both an in-person institute and an online course for university personnel providing instruction in best practices for the integration of student learning and academic advising in consideration of NCAA policies and rules, Flaherty said. The partnership will provide a unique opportunity to encourage collaboration between athletics and non-athletics campus administrators and faculty.

"The NCAA and NACADA share an interest in ensuring academic success for collegiate students," said Myles Brand, president of the NCAA. "Just as strengthening the intercollegiate athletics connection with higher education is an ongoing goal of the NCAA and its member institutions, engaging campus academic advisers and personnel outside the athletics department is another important part of academic reform."

The partnership represents what is believed to be the first programming to assist institutions in assimilating the student-athlete into the mainstream campus community, said Mike Holen, dean of K-State's College of Education. The two new programs will begin to help institutions better understand student-athletes as they are mainstreamed and will best assure the success of such integrations, he said.

"The NCAA partnership supports the mission of our association as we strive to enhance the educational development of all students and to provide opportunities for faculty and staff within higher education to apply the principles of student learning and academic advising," said Jo Anne Huber, president of the National Academic Advising Association.

The National Academic Advising Association was established in 1979. Its executive office has been at K-State since 1990. The association has more than 9,200 members representing every U.S. state, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and several other countries. Membership includes professional advisers, counselors, faculty, administrators and students working to enhance the educational development of students through a mission to affirm the role of academic advising in student success and persistence; anticipate the academic advising needs of 21st-century students, advisers and institutions; and advance the body of knowledge on academic advising. More information on the association is available at http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/