October 31, 2015
Academic services team keeps the Friars in the game
By Charles C. Joyce
Whenever there’s a Friar intercollegiate athletics team on the field, court, or other surface, be assured there’s another one behind it — ensuring the student-athletes’ academic and personal well-being.
The Office of Academic Services (OAS) is available to assist all students, but in the case of the College’s 350 Division I student-athletes, its services are game-changers.
Student-athletes’ demanding and often-conflicting schedules, as well as the need to adhere to NCAA and College eligibility requirements, necessitate critical skills support and guidance for many Friars, particularly during their competitive seasons.
“Our staff regularly reviews every student-athlete’s academic progress throughout his or her career at PC,” said Anthony J. Mendes ’12G, academic coordinator for student athletes.
Three of the OAS’ 10 full-time staff members and one graduate assistant work exclusively with student-athletes. Services and needs run the gamut of skills offered to all students and include tutoring, writing, organizing essays and papers, providing study and exam strategies, and developing time-management practices.
“People in our office always say that you can be a great student and a great athlete at Providence College,” said Kaitlyn O’Malley, assistant director for Student-Athlete Services. “This is achieved through tremendous commitment by our student-athletes and the dedication of our talented support staff, who work tirelessly for our students.”
of the men’s basketball team, on a visit to the Office of Academic Services.
Coaches and faculty members are key partners, said Mendes and Marissa Mezzanotte, who was hired in 2012 as the office’s first academic coordinator for men’s basketball. Mendes noted coaches expect regular academic status updates on their student-athletes and hold study halls when their teams travel.
Every semester, Student-Athlete Services sends out progress reports to professors, requesting specific information that allows staff to identify student-athletes who may need assistance. Many professors appreciate that “someone else is looking out” for the student-athletes, said Mendes.
Mezzanotte said the college experience for student athletes in revenue sports like basketball is different from other undergraduates, including travel demands. She goes to away games to utilize “any time I can” for academic support to the players and will sit next to Head Coach Ed Cooley on bus and plane rides to update him on their progress.
Mezzanotte, Mendes, O’Malley, and the rest of the OAS team appear on the winning track. In the most recently completed academic year, student-athletes recorded a combined GPA of 3.15 on a scale of 4.00 across PC’s 19 intercollegiate athletics teams.
