Left Navigation

N4A Home About Us Regions Publications Career Center Committees
Ethnic Concerns Learning Concerns Legislative Services Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,
Transgender Concerns
 Life Skills Strategic Planning Membership Model Practices NFL-N4A Advisory Research Special Task Force Sponsorship Student Recognition Two-Year Colleges
Education & Management Services Business Forms External Links Online Payment

Committee on Model Practices

home > committees > model practices

Purpose

The Model Practices Committee has been established to assist in identifying policies, practices, and programs that can be used to enrich student-athlete support services programming in the specified areas of: Academic Advisement, Academic Integrity, Disability Resources, Life Skills, Target Populations and Tutoring. This committee, in collaboration with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), will disseminate these model practices to assist beginners, intermediate and advanced members of the National Athletic Academic Advisors Association (N4A) and NCAA member institutions in general.

Practice Submission Instructions

Submit completed N4A Models of Practice Submission Form to Ragean Hill

Academic Advising Whitepaper

Articles

Article I - Responsibility to the Profession and its Membership


Section 1: The member shall attempt to promote the development and improvement of the profession as well as continue personal and professional growth throughout his or her career.

Section 2: The member should expect ethical conduct from other members of N4A and act accordingly.

Section 3: The member is obligated to uphold ethical standards when dealing with others within respective institutions and with non-members.

Section 4: The member should not seek self-enhancement through the public critique of other members.

Section 5: The member should not misrepresent personal professional qualifications to exceed those actually possessed and act to correct any mistakes.

Section 6: When the member provides any information to the public, subordinates, co-workers or superiors, there is an obligation to present an accurate and truthful account in accordance with the situation.

Article II. Responsibilities to the Student-Athlete


Section 1: Counseling

  1. In this relationship, the student - athlete retains full freedom of choice and decision and the advisor has no authority or responsibility to approve or disapprove of the choices or decisions of the student - athlete.
  2. The member's main concern is the integrity and welfare of the student- athlete.
  3. The act of counseling and any information that is disclosed by the student-athlete must be kept confidential.

Section 2: Advising

  1. Advising is the area where the member exercises professional judgment and experience to suggest alternatives, strategies and behavior for the student. In this situation, the advisor can be more directive and
    assist the student-athlete to understand the consequences of their decisions.
  2. The member should always be aware of academic policies, procedures, requirements, programs, course offerings and any other elements of the institution that can impact the student.
  3. The member should always represent program offerings, course offerings and majors in a truthful and appropriate manner, especially when dealing with recruits.
  4. The member should keep the students' interests and aspirations in mind when scheduling, rather than impose personal values.
  5. Advised of eligibility parameters, the student should be allowed to enroll in the program he or she chooses. Students should never be forced into programs not of their choosing, merely to ensure eligibility.
  6. Students should be encouraged to challenge themselves academically, rather than taking the easiest courses available.
  7. The member should realize that academic and athletic interests are not always compatible and may come into conflict. The member should constantly seek to minimize any educational disadvantages incurred through athletic participation.

Section 3: Non-Discrimination

The member should not discriminate against student-athletes in regard to race, creed, color, age, sex or national origin.

Section 4: Objectivity

  1. The member should remain objective and open when working with a student-athlete regardless of previous academic background, test scores or evaluative comments from others.
  2. The member should not let athletic ability or performance or specific team membership influence his or her attitudes or work with a student- athlete.
  3. The member should regard each student-athlete as an individual with unique emotions and needs and act accordingly.

Section 5: Privacy

  1. The member should be aware and honor the students' legal rights to privacy of their academic records, especially grades.
  2. The member should respect student privacy and counselor confidentiality in disclosing information to coaches or faculty.
  3. The member should take precautions to ensure that records, transcripts, reports and correspondence relating to students is secure from public inspection and not shared inappropriately.

Section 6: Professional Conduct

  1. The member should not interact with students in any manner that jeopardizes or compromises their professional relationship; for example any interaction of a sexual nature.
  2. The member should always be cognizant of the importance of serving as a role model and act as an advocate for academic standards and achievement.
  3. The member should not tolerate cheating, plagiarism or any other acts of academic dishonesty.
  4. The member should not participate in any form of sexual harassment, nor tolerate it by subordinates or tutors. Such conduct by faculty or coaches should be addressed in an appropriate manner.
  5. The member should never engage in any attempt to bring pressure to bear on an instructor to assign a grade or change a grade for a student. The member can make instructors aware of certain conditions or situations, but only to clarify the student's position an din the spirit of cooperation to work with the instructor in helping the student succeed.
  6. The member should never be party to the offer of tickets, trips, sideline passes, autographed memorabilia or any other items that would constitute bartering for a grade with an instructor.
  7. The member should act in the best interest of the student, to motivate them, to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, to encourage them to acquire knowledge and understanding, and to develop goals.

Committee Chairs

Ragean Hill
Mike Miller

Committee Members

Margaret Ackerstrom, Northwestern University
Barbara Boyette, Elon University
Laila Brock, Florida Atlantic University
Betsi Burns, Northwestern University
Debbie Carroll, Middle Tennessee State University
Dard Miller, Boston College
Demetrius Marlowe, North Carolina State University
Pam Robenolt, University of Washinton
Virginia Romero, Cerritos Community College
Judy Sackfield, University Alabama Birmingham

 

Footer Nav