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Student Athlete Academic Attendance and Success Policy

INTRODUCTION. The athletics program is a valuable feature of Walla Walla University.  The program provides an opportunity for students to challenge themselves physically, to develop leadership skills, to achieve an academic degree, and to grow spiritually within a supportive Seventh-day Adventist environment.  The program also provides extracurricular opportunities for the university and for athletes to represent the university as they engage in competitions.

The university desires each athlete to achieve their academic and personal goals.  Academic success is impacted by student engagement and course attendance, and athletes will miss some course sessions to participate in athletics.  This policy provides guidance for students, instructors and athletics personnel to work together to support student success.  In some instances, it may not be possible for a student to participate in athletics due to academic requirements such as clinical experiences, activity courses, courses with significant group interactions, field courses, student teaching, etc. which cannot be rescheduled.

GUIDELINES

  1. Athletes may not miss more than 20% of regular course sessions in a single course due to athletics.
  2. Athletes may not miss regular course sessions for practices.
  3. Coaches may not penalize athletes for missing practices due to attendance of regular course sessions.
  4. Athletes may not miss regular class sessions prior to 2 hours before a home competition.
  5. Athletes may not miss regular class sessions prior to 30 minutes before departure for away competitions
  6. Competitions may not be scheduled during final examinations.
  7. Athletes who believe they are not receiving reasonable academic adjustments or support should contact the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) or the Athletics Program Director (APD).
  8. Exceptions to these guidelines may be made with approval by the APD and the Associate Academic Vice President for special circumstances such as championship play.

STUDENT ATHLETE RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Meet with academic advisor as early as possible to plan course enrollments to minimize absences.
  2. Provide instructors a complete list of regular course session which will missed due to athletic events within the first week of the course.
  3. Notify instructors in advance of any conflicts due to athletic events with the completion of assessments (quizzes, exams, etc.) and make arrangements to complete them.
  4. Complete and submit all assignments (homework, reports, etc.) by the same deadline as other students unless otherwise approved by the instructor.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Reasonably support and accommodate student athletics and their academic success.
  2. Check university email for notifications of when an athlete will miss a regular class session.
  3. Do not penalize athletes for missing a regular class session due to athletic program activities beyond what occurs for other students missing classes for other excused reasons (illness etc.).
  4. Submit academic progress reports as appropriate for athletes.
  5. Notify the Student Success Coordinator and APD if an athlete is struggling academically or personally.
  6. Check the online athletics schedule and team rosters for information if needed.

Compliance concerns regarding instructors should be referred to the Associate Academic Vice President and the APD.  Concerns involving a student should be referred to the Vice President for Student Life and could result in the discontinuation of membership in the athletics program and athletics scholarships.