Student Athlete Handbook

ACADEMICS

A grade of "I" may be assigned if you have not completed all the required work in a class as a result of illness or some other emergency. You have thirty (30) days after you enter your next semester to complete the work or your grade automatically becomes an "F".

NCAA Academic Eligibility Requirements

In order to remain eligible to compete after your first academic year (or after one season of eligibility), you must have made "satisfactory progress" toward a degree. This means that once you are enrolled in a specific degree program, you must pass a minimum of 24 credits since the last season of competition, an average of 12 credits per semester. Your courses must be selected in consultation with your faculty advisor and Athletic Academic Services. These courses must be from the list of basic and divisional requirements found in the Academic Bulletin.

If you are undecided on a major, which is permissible during your first four (4) semesters, you may earn credits in courses that may be counted toward a degree at the University. You must declare a major no later than the beginning of your fifth (5th) semester. Once a major is declared, only courses counting toward your total credits needed for a degree may be used for eligibility purposes.

Student-Athlete Class Attendance

 It is important that student-athletes attend all classes. Student-athletes are permitted excused absences for competitions based on university policy. Excused absences as approved by the university for athletic competition are:

• For all sports except golf, the Athletic Director and Women’s Athletic Director request excused absences for no more than 6 MWF and 4 TT classes per semester, and not more than 9 MWF and 6 TT classes for the golf team.
• Competition for ACC and NCAA Tournaments are additional excused absences that are not included in the 9 MWF and 6 TT absences.
• All requests for excused absences are made through the Athletic Director and Women’s Athletic Director and not directly from the coach.
• The Dean and Director of Academic Counseling send each professor who teaches athletes a list of their names, the number of absences requested for the entire semester, and (when possible) the actual dates the absences will occur.

Summer School

Before enrolling in any summer school courses, you must obtain approval from Student-Athlete Services.

At the conclusion of each semester, after grades have been posted, your eligibility status is reviewed by the University Registrar, Compliance, and Student-Athlete Services. Your head coach will receive an eligibility report along with a copy of your grades. At this time, you will be informed if there are any problems concerning your eligibility status. Additional information on academic eligibility can be found in the Eligibility Requirements section of this Handbook.

Satisfactory Progress

Click here to view the Satisfactory Progress Chart

• Percent of Degree Requirements

  As a prerequisite for eligibility for competition, a student athlete shall have successfully completed the course requirements in the student's specific degree program specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin. This provision shall be applicable to the eligibility not only of a continuing student, but also of a transfer student from a two year or four year collegiate institution, even if the student has not yet completed an academic year in residence or utilized a season of eligibility in a sport at the certifying institution.

  A student athlete who is entering his or her third year of collegiate enrollment shall have successfully completed at least 40 percent of the course requirements in the student's specific degree program. A student athlete who is entering his or her fourth year of collegiate enrollment shall have successfully completed at least 60 percent of the course requirements in the student's specific degree program. A student athlete who is entering his or her fifth year of collegiate enrollment shall have successfully completed at least 80 percent of the course requirements in the student's specific degree program.

• Minimum Grade Point Average Requirements

  As a prerequisite for eligibility for competition, a Division I student-athlete shall present the minimum grade point average specified below, computed pursuant to institutional policies applicable to all students. This provision shall be applicable to the eligibility not only of a continuing student, but also of a transfer student from a two-year or four-year collegiate institution, even if the student has not yet completed an academic year in residence or utilized a season of eligibility in a sport at the certifying institution.

  A student-athlete who is entering his or her second year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade point average (based upon a maximum of 4.000) that equals 90 percent of the cumulative minimum grade point average (2.000) required for graduation. A student athlete who is entering his or her third year of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade point average (based upon a maximum of 4.000) that equals 95 percent of the cumulative minimum grade point average (2.000) required for graduation. A student athlete who is entering his or her fourth of collegiate enrollment shall present a cumulative minimum grade point average (based upon a maximum of 4.000) that equals 100 percent of the cumulative minimum grade point average (2.000) required for graduation.

• Credits Earned During Regular Academic Year vs. Summer Sessions

  The student-athlete shall earn at least 75 percent of the semester or quarter hours required for satisfactory progress during the regular academic year. The student-athlete shall earn no more than 25 percent of the semester or quarter hours required for satisfactory progress during the summer.

Minimum Academic Requirements Grade Point Average

Students are responsible for knowing their academic standing at all times. Any student whose GPA falls below the required minimum shall have a grace period of one semester to raise the average to the required level. Students also have the option of attending summer school at Wake Forest in an effort to raise the average.

For classes prior to the class of 2001:
A minimum of 144 credits and a 2.0 GPA is mandatory in order to graduate. Of the 144 credits required for graduation, at least 72 must be completed at Wake Forest. See your Wake Forest Undergraduate Bulletin for specific year requirements.

For the class entering fall of 2001through summer 2004:
A minimum of 112 hours and a 2.0 GPA is mandatory in order to graduate. At least 56 of the 112 hours required for graduation must be completed at Wake Forest. See your Wake Forest Undergraduate Bulletin for specific year requirements.

Grade Point Average Calculations

With all the talk about GPA's, you may wish to calculate your own GPA. To do this, just divide the number of grade points earned by the number of credits attempted.

Grade points are just grades translated into numbers. Wake Forest University has a 4 point scale, an A=4.00, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.00, B-=2.67, C+=2.33 C=2.00, C-=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1.00, and D-=0.67. No points are given for an I or F.

An example of how to calculate your GPA is as follows:

You have attempted 14 hours and have earned 34 grade points. You divide 34 by 14 and find your GPA is 2.428. You would be considered a student in "good standing."

You may repeat a course in which you received a grade of a C- or lower. When you repeat a Wake Forest course in which you received a grade of C-, D+, D, D- or F, all grades will be shown on the transcript, but the course may be counted only one time for credit. For purposes of determining the grade point average, a course will be considered as attempted only once, and the grade points assigned will reflect the highest grade received.

Permission to repeat a course with a grade of C- or lower must be first obtained from Student-Athlete Services.

ACC Honor Roll

The Honor Roll comprises those student-athletes who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a grade point average of 3.0 or better for the full academic year.

Drop/Add Procedures

The last day to drop a class without receiving a grade of "F" may be found on the academic calendar provided by the University. If you want to drop a class before this date, you must consult with the Registrar, your Faculty Advisor and Student-Athlete Services.

If you drop a course after this date, you must consult your faculty advisor, your instructor, the Dean of your College, and Student-Athlete Services. You must obtain prior written approval from the appropriate Dean and obtain a permission form from Student-Athlete.

Be careful when dropping courses that you do not fall below the NCAA's minimum course load requirement of 12 hours per semester or violate the satisfactory-progress requirements (both of which are described on the next page).

North Carolina residents are required to register for a minimum of 12 hours to establish eligibility for the North Carolina Legislative Tuition Grant.

Because these requirements are necessary for you to maintain your athletic eligibility, Student-Athlete Services must be consulted and initial your change of schedule form before a class may be dropped.

Declaring Your Major

As a student-athlete, you are required to choose a major by the beginning of your fifth (5th) semester. After the beginning of your junior year, you may not switch from one major to another without prior approval of the departments concerned. Your course of study for the junior and senior years must include the minimum departmental requirements for your major in addition to any other courses selected by you and approved by your advisor.

Probation

Any student convicted of violating the University's Honor Code is ineligible to represent the University in any way until the suspension or probation period is completed and the student is returned to good standing.

Dismissal

If you are dismissed at the end of a term, your registration for the next term is cancelled and you become a non-student. You become ineligible for athletic participation at the time you are dismissed. Your dismissal may be appealed to the Committee on Academic Affairs through your Dean; however, the NCAA does not consider you eligible until you have been officially reinstated and are allowed to register as a student.

Grievance Procedures

1. Speak first with the head coach involved. Every effort should be made to work out any grievances at this level.
2. If unsuccessful, seek out the Senior Associate Administrator/Senior Women's Administrator. Be sure you have tried to resolve the problem with your coach because the first question asked of the student-athlete is whether the problem has been brought to the attention of the head coach.
3. If the matter still remains unresolved; the Director of Athletics should be contacted directly by the student-athlete. It is hoped that all matters can be resolved "in-house." However, should problems still exist, the following administrators outside the department may be contacted:
        1. The Dean of Student Services
        2. The Dean of the College
        3. University Ombudsman

If all of the above fail, available to all Wake Forest athletes is our University Ombudsman Mrs. Sharon Andrews.  Mrs. Andrews acts as an intermediary for the student, as a final alternative to meeting with a coach or faculty member.  The Ombudsman is an important and vital contact person to turn to with personal needs or problems.  All conversations with Mrs. Andrews are confidential and separate from Academic or Department of Athletics personnel.  Mrs. Andrews may be contacted at 758-4377.

THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LAP)

When you enter this program your major learning problems are assessed, then a learning program is designed to address your specific needs. This program’s many services may include a motivation counselor, work on reading comprehension or computer assisted tutorials. Also available in the Learning Assistance Center is Psychology 100, Learning to Learn. This is a three (3) hour, pass/fail class covering academic learning skills. The Learning Assistance Center Office is located in Reynolda Hall. If more information is desired, call (336) 758-5929.

WRITING CENTER

The Writing Center is available to all students who wish to improve their writing effectiveness. There is often a misunderstanding concerning the Writing Center. Any student who would like to improve his/her writing skills may attend; however, if a student has been assigned a "CC" or composition condition, he/she will receive an "Incomplete" for the course. The student will have one semester in which to work in the Writing Center, revising the course work to the instructor's satisfaction. If the instructor is on leave the following term or has left the University, the director of the Writing Center will work with the instructor's chairperson or dean to appoint another member of the faculty to evaluate the student's revised work. If the student fails to work in the Writing Center, or fails to revise the work to the instructor's satisfaction, the grade will become an "F" automatically, unless some action is taken by the instructor. If extenuating circumstances make it impossible for the student to make significant progress in a semester, the student may appeal to the Dean's office for an additional semester to work on removing the "Incomplete" grade.

STUDENT- ATHLETE SERVICES

The purpose of this program is to assist every student-athlete with graduating by coordinating academic support with the athletics program. The Student-Athlete Services Program tries not only to bridge the communication gap sometimes found between athletics and academics, but it also assists you in establishing a personal network of resources for career opportunities. This program was established to help you take advantage of every academic and athletic opportunity that Wake Forest offers.

Students have an academic advisor assigned their freshman year. In addition, students may meet with their counselors in Student-Athlete Services after meeting with their advisor. This allows them to review their course selection to ensure they are in a minimum of 12 hours and that classes fit into their practice schedules when possible. Meeting with Student-Athlete Services does not excuse you from meeting with your official faculty advisor. Only faculty advisors can sign demographic sheets, but Student-Athlete Services does co-sign add/drop slips.

**Do not leave computers, books, bookbags or purses unattended in the study hall area.  Student-Athlete Services is NOT responsible for lost or stolen items.

TUTORIAL SESSIONS

Because of your dual responsibilities as both student and athlete, special tutoring is available to you within the Student-Athlete Services Program. Every effort is made to obtain a tutor for you if you need assistance. For upper level classes work with other students or with the professor is sometimes recommended. If you desire special assistance, please do it as early as possible.

Student-Athlete Services provides tutoring to student-athletes at no cost provided that:

• You have regularly attended class. Student-Athlete Services will NOT provide tutors as a substitute for class attendance.
• You have utilized the assistance associated with the class (e.g. help sessions, professors’ office hours) to the extent possible.

TUTOR PROCEDURES

Student-Athletes with a GPA below 2.2 or those considered “at risk” by the academic counselor are assigned tutors in advance. They meet with their tutors during the first two weeks of classes in the Miller Center during a designated “Tutor Night.” All other tutor requests are made by the student-athlete on a designated “Tutor Request Form.” Tutors are assigned within 7 days of the request.

Tutors are assigned in three different ways: Student-Athlete Serivces tutors, Learning Assistance tutors, or Departmental tutors.

TUTOR ASSIGNMENTS

Tutor assignments are made in groups of 3-5 when possible, but smaller groups and individual tutoring is available when agreed upon by the counselor and the student-athlete. Tutors should meet 1-2 times per week depending on student needs. Tutoring does not take the place of reading and individual student responsibility for class.

If you are concerned about your performance in any class and meet the above requirements, report to the Student-Athlete Services office to discuss the possibility of being assigned a tutor. For the most part, tutoring is most effective when it is undertaken on a regular, sustained basis. Do not expect to be dramatically helped by one or two last-minute sessions. Also, do not expect or ask the tutor to do your homework or write your papers. You should go to tutoring sessions prepared to tell the tutor clearly what questions you have or what problems you have encountered with material you have studied. Student-Athlete Services will pay only for tutoring that has been authorized. If you do not follow the proper procedure, you will have to pay for any tutoring you receive. All tutorial sessions must take place in the Student-Athlete Services center, unless otherwise approved by Student-Athlete Services.

TEXTBOOKS

As part of your scholarship, the Department of Athletics may furnish you with textbooks that are required for your academic courses. To obtain your textbooks, go to the University Bookstore with your course schedule during specific times designated by Student-Athlete Services and the University Bookstore. You must have a signed form if you do not pick your books up at these times. Gather the books required for your courses. If you drop a course, return the book(s) with the receipt to the bookstore for a refund to the Athletic Dept. If you add a course, you must get a form permitting you to procure the requisite books from Student-Athlete Services. If you are found to have purchased books for courses you are not registered for, you will have 7 days to rectify the situation with Student-Athlete Services. If the situation is not rectified in 7 days, it will be referred to the Athletics Compliance Office to investigate a possible NCAA violation. In addition, you are to be reminded that your scholarship cannot pay to replace any lost or stolen books; the cost to replace them is your responsibility.

If books required by your professor cannot be found in the bookstore, money for the purchase of required textbooks or other printed material can be obtained from the Athletic Business Office after approval by Student-Athlete Services and the Athletics Compliance Office.

At the end of each semester you must return your books immediately following your last exam. To return your books, go to the University Bookstore and identify yourself as a student-athlete. The value of your returned books will be credited to the athletic department’s textbook scholarship account. Failure to do so will result in the loss of your book scholarship for the following semester. Juniors and seniors may keep textbooks in their majors and minors for use as future references.

**Please remember that it is your responsibility to review the receipt after purchasing and returning your textbooks to make sure there are no problems.

WAKE FOREST UNDERGRADUATE PLAN

Each freshman student entering in the fall of 2001 has been issued an IBM ThinkPad computer as part of the Wake Forest Undergraduate Plan. This ThinkPad is the property of Wake Forest University. You will be responsible for ensuring that it is well cared for. In two years you will exchange it for a new model. The University will expect the returned ThinkPad to be in good and usable condition. Please refer to the Bulletin of Wake Forest University for answers to any questions about this plan and its policies.