Are the expectations placed on academic advisors realistic?
With the increased requirements of academic reform, academic advisors in athletics departments around the country are feeling the pressure to keep their student-athletes eligible. Although these advisors report to the athletics director, in many ways their position sits at the intersection of academics and athletics and that can sometimes be difficult to balance. Last spring, Champion Magazine examined the world of academic advising and found that since academic reform was instituted, “expectations are higher, stress levels have increased and downtime has become almost nonexistent.” According to the article, advisors “might encourage student-athletes to stretch their limits by taking challenging courses. But they also must consider that student-athletes need to meet specific grade standards and show progress toward a degree in order to compete.” It’s this tension that sparked the article in USA Today. While it’s clear that the dual goals of academic advisors may occasionally come in di
