Student athlete initiative needs inclusivity

The formation of the Student Athlete Academic Initiative Working Group will hopefully be an impetus for the discussion of athletics and academics on campus.

However, it is imperative that the group is inclusive of all facets of campus life.

The group will be led by Jim Dean, the former dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

In his new role as executive vice chancellor and provost, he will work to examine every policy associated with UNC athletics.

This includes the admissions process, tutoring and academic advising.

The group’s goal — to promote top performance for student athletes — may seem lofty for UNC at the given moment. UNC has been rife with academic and athletic scandals.

The athlete part of student athletes has been overrepresented. Making sure faculty is involved will help restore the balance.

It feels at times that UNC takes one step forward only to take two steps back.

This is why the faculty, student government, administration, admissions office and athletic department must be represented within the group so its efforts succeed.

The reason for this is twofold: first, all of these stakeholders work together to promote student athletes.

If one group is underrepresented, then the top performance for student athletes won’t be promoted.

Secondly, every week it feels as if there is a new group or panel examining athletics and academics at UNC.

The process needs to be streamlined so time, energy and ideas aren’t wasted.

Chancellor Folt is right in saying athletes’ academic progress should be treated no differently from all UNC students.

We hope the group can do just that.