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Howard University Athletics

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Academic Services

 
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Support Services
Mission
The athletics department provides a professional staff and facilities designed with the student-athlete in mind. Our mission is to provide programs, advising, and support for all student-athletes from matriculation to graduation, prioritizing their well-being to ensure an overall positive experience. In addition to earning a Howard degree, the growth and development of young men and women is our priority.
 
Services
Howard’s Student-Athlete Support Services serves more than 400 student-athletes who participate in 21 NCAA division-I sports.  Services include one-on-one academic advising, study hall and tutoring facilities, along with academic development programming for student-athletes to promote personal growth and maturation towards developing well-rounded graduates prepared for successful careers.  With a graduation success rate of 81%, all student-athletes are encouraged to utilize any and all academic support services and facilities provided by the athletics department to supplement their academic experience at Howard University.
 
Academic Advising
To assist student-athletes with this process, each team is assigned an athletic academic advisor who works alongside academic advisors in the respective academic departments. In addition to academic monitoring, Athletic academic advisors provide direction to available resources to ensure student-athletes are successful inside and outside of the classroom.

As students begin their academic journey at Howard, they will meet with their athletic academic advisor on a regular basis.  Meetings are scheduled in-person, email, or through Bison Adviser.  Occasionally, students may meet in small groups and with their coaches to discuss academic progress.

It is important to note athletic academic advisors serve alongside departmental advisors.  Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their departmental advisors regularly, especially during course registration.
 
Study Hall
Study Hall Breakdown

Setting aside time for purposeful studying and practicing time management is our goal for study hall. Our facilities are equipped with computers, desks, and whiteboards, providing tools for students to be productive. In addition to Student-Athlete Support Services, Teaching and Learning Support Services, located in Academic Support Building B, provides a computer lab, tutoring facility, and additional study spaces for our students to use as well.

ALL first-year and transfer student-athletes are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of study hall each week. After the first academic year, the breakdown is as follows on the chart.

Please note, some teams have higher GPA requirements.

Though the department utilizes a software system to track hours completed by each student, ultimately, each student is responsible for the tracking of his/her completed hours.
 
Study Hall Hours of Operation:

Burr Annex Study Hall:
Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

Academic Support Building B
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED    
 
Tutoring
For student-athletes desiring additional assistance with coursework, Student-Athlete Support Services, in conjunction with Teaching and Learning Support Services (TLSS), offer tutoring at the request of the student-athlete.  Our goal is to provide additional support in many of the introductory-level course work offered at Howard, including Biology, Chemistry, Algebra, Calculus, English, and some foreign languages.

In consultation with the athletic academic advisor, any student-athlete may request a tutor. Tutoring is assigned through the platform Bison Adviser and takes place in-person or virtually.

Would you like to become a tutor? Contact Dr. Morgan Fisher for more details.
 
Student-Athlete Development/Life Skills
Student Engagement Pic
 
Life Skills

As an NCAA member institution, Howard Athletics takes pride in providing student-athletes opportunities to develop as students, athletes, and individuals.  Through the Life Skills program, student-athletes can be involved in events and activities that foster personal and professional development.  Opportunities such as resume workshops, health seminars, financial literacy, community service, and career preparation events enhance the overall student-athlete experience and the transition to life after sport.  Various activities are offered throughout the academic year and teams are strongly encouraged to participate.

Howard has partnered with several organizations and non-profits in the area to give back, including District of Columbia Public School System, So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.), Capital Area Food Bank, and the Rita Bright Community Center.

Each year, teams compete for the Life Skills Award signifying their dedication to academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, career development, and community services.

Past recipients:
2019: Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
2020: Football and Women’s Track and Field

In addition to student-athlete specific programming, our department collaborates with Teaching and Learning Support Services (TLSS) on additional life skills workshops throughout the year that is open to all students.

For more information about the student-athlete development program, contact Dr. Morgan Fisher.
 
SAAC
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a leadership and advocacy organization comprised of current student-athletes, representing each team sponsored by the athletics department.  SAACs help to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive image.

The Howard University SAAC is designed to:
  • Generate a voice for student-athletes within the department of athletics
  • Solicit student-athlete response to proposed NCAA legislation
  • Suggest potential NCAA legislation
  • Organize community service efforts
  • Create an opportunity for student-athlete representation on campus-wide committees

Subcommittee Representatives
 
Program Chair Kiyanna Jackson
Fundraising Chair Ameenah Saalih
Community Services Destiny Stanford
Marketing Chair Arianna “Ari” Morgan
Co-Marketing Chair Deja Dade

Each team has, at minimum, two representatives attending the meeting to serve as liaisons for their respective teams.
 
2020-2021 team representatives:
 
Sport Student-Athletes
Women’s Volleyball Folashade Wilson and Marcelle Butler
Women’s Basketball Jayla Thornton
Football Jevin Jackson, James Newell, Kenneth Larkin, and Christian White
Women’s Soccer Aleeya Sawyer and Victoria Thornton
Women’s Swimming & Diving India Jackson and De’Angela Fobbs
Women’s Lacrosse Skylar Jennings, Jillian Jones, and Lailah Robey
Women’s Track & Field Jessika Gbai and Rachel Edler
Women’s Tennis Kendall Addison and Sydney Taylor
Men’s Tennis Devaughn Blackburn