New program increases student-athlete counseling

Varsity wrestler Jacob Pincus has a lot on his plate during the year, and since last fall that has included regular meetings with an academic adviser.

He thinks of them as trips to the doctor, keeping him in shape when it comes to schoolwork.

“It’s like a weekly checkup,” he said.

The new requirement is part of the My Academic Plan support program led by Michelle Brown, director of the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes. More than 300 student athletes began to meet at least once a week with an academic counselor, who helps them plan out their work and develop study skills.

Since fall 2013, participation in MAP has been required of all freshmen student athletes, as well as those who have transferred to UNC in the past semester and athletes who have below a 2.5 GPA or athletic eligibility concerns.

Brown said approximately 200 of the participating students are freshmen and first-semester transfers..

Pincus, a freshman, said his adviser always asks if the athletes in his group have upcoming tests or assignments and offers advice on how to prepare for them.

He also said his math tutor helped him adjust to college-level calculus, calling his tutor one of the best teachers he ever had.

“I owe a lot to him,” Pincus said.

The program is one of several efforts UNC has taken in the wake of the University’s academic and athletic scandal. It came as recent reports showed that varsity athletes’ graduation rates and standardized test scores trail those of non-athletes.

Brown said MAP’s individualized focus comes from student calls for more one-on-one and small group sessions.

“They said that just a big, large study hall area wasn’t as productive,” Brown said.

She said UNC is bundling the group study sessions with smaller and individual meetings, and the department lets students take part in developing their support plan so that it fits with each person’s learning style and schedule.

Andrew Perrin, a sociology professor who sits on the Faculty Athletics Committee, said the program has been a success so far.

“Michelle Brown and her team are doing a good job making sure services are in place to provide real academic support to athletes without leading to problems there have been in the past,” he said.

In October, former athletic tutor Jennifer Wiley Thompson, previously Jennifer Wiley, was indicted on four counts of athlete-agent inducement. Thompson has also been accused of giving football players improper help on assignments in her time at UNC.

Several reports into the University’s athletics program have since recommended that there be more oversight of the athletic support program.

Pincus said following a routine is key to balancing schoolwork with team practices.

The Student-Athlete Academic Initiative Working Group, a group of administrators and faculty including Brown, decided Monday to recommend that every athlete meet with his or her UNC-assigned academic adviser outside of the athletic department at least once a semester.

Members said broadening the conversation to include athletes’ professors, counselors and advisers would rebuild some of the trust that was lost years ago.

Currently, tutors are discouraged from speaking with athletes’ professors about their performance.

“Instead of regulating what can be said by whom, set up a system where any topic can be discussed — but set up a system of trust,” Perrin said at the meeting.

As the MAP program enters its second semester, Brown said faculty will continue to evaluate and adjust it.

She said in the spring, UNC might look to hire a new learning specialist to oversee the program.

“We want to make sure we’re providing the best services,” she said. “It is still evolving and may take on some different components in the future as we continue to assess implementation and success.”

university@dailytarheel.com