Club Sports student-athletes continue upward trend of academic success
6/7/2023 10:45:43 AM | Cycling, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Men's D1 Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Swimming, Rifle, Rowing, Triathlon, Women's Beach Volleyball, Gymnastics, Women's D1 Hockey, Ski & Snowboard, Women's Wrestling, Men's Wrestling, Men's D2 Hockey, Women's D2 Hockey, Racquetball, Disc Golf, Men's Ultimate, Synchronized Skating, Archery, Men's Volleyball, Taekwondo, Women's Ultimate, Rock Climbing, Shooting, Pistol, Shotgun, DNU Men's Beach Volleyball, Dance
Through academic accountability and positive peer influence, Liberty University Club Sports continues to raise its standards of excellence in the classroom as well as in the athletic arena.
Liberty’s 675 Club Sports student-athletes achieved a record cumulative grade-point average of 3.36 following the spring semester, with all 44 Club Sports teams maintaining better than a 3.0 combined GPA for the first time in program history.
“That has been our larger goal as a department and we hope to maintain that moving forward,” Club Sports Director of Academic Advancement Sarah Kelly said of all teams reaching the 3.00 standard. “We are on somewhat of a plateau, but it is encouraging to see that cumulative GPA continue to rise, after our student-athletes were at 3.35 after last semester.”
Club Sports Athletic Director Kirk Handy said he never ceases to be amazed when he hears of the progress that is being made through the academic advancement team.
“Sarah and her team have done an unbelievable job,” he said. “The resources we have been able to provide student-athletes through our academic team have been huge and what we are seeing is the return on the investment for Liberty — not only bringing in student-athletes and having a high retention rate, but also having students’ GPAs and graduation rates continue to improve every year. Sarah and her staff have really developed opportunities for student-athletes to succeed, developed a program with mentoring being a key aspect for students to do so well.”
A total of 321 of Liberty’s Club Sports student-athletes made the dean’s list this semester, with 141 (more than 20 percent) recording a perfect 4.0 GPA. The rifle team posted the highest team GPA this year at 3.72 with the women’s gymnastics team ranking second at 3.69.
Kelly, who received her B.S. in Exercise Science: Fitness Specialist in 2012 while competing on the rowing team before completing her MBA in Strategic Management with a focus on human resources in 2019, said her office will be adding a fourth mentor, graduate MBA student Kyla McGowan, for the fall semester to provide more support especially to the incoming freshman class.
“We realize if we can get them that first semester and set them up well with information, study skills, and test-taking skills, we set a goal for them to achieve a 3.0, which is an indicator that they are on the right track,” Kelly said. “We really emphasize their time-management focus. I was a student-athlete, too, and realize the time that it takes and the amount of discipline required. We tell them, if they’re dedicated to their sport, they can be dedicated as a student as well.”
The academic advancement team hosted five workshops this past semester to help the student-athletes to engage with their professors, coaches, and classmates. One brought in panel of juniors and seniors that struggled academically as freshmen before finding success through support from the Club Sports staff.
“That was a fun and effective one, with students talking to students,” Kelly said. “We don’t officially do peer-to-peer counseling, but the juniors and seniors have a lot of wisdom to share, to let them know that it takes work (to complete an undergraduate degree).”
McGowan will complement Assistant Director of Academic Advancement Donna Holland, Josh Graham, who works out of the spiritual development office, and Kristan Ware, the LU Dance head coach. Men’s swimming Head Coach Heath Grishaw is the assistant director of compliance, with assistance from Wade Lawrence. Nick Nary, who completed his MBA with a human resources cognate in May, serves as academic study hall assistant.
“We have a good team,” Kelly said. “As we continue to grow in number of staff, we have the time to build better relationships with student-athletes. As we build those relationships, and bring up concerns with them, we see a payoff over the years, so it is encouraging to see that growth.”
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer