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Description:
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Academic programs for student athletes are an integral part of collegiate athletic programs across the country . The Summer Bridge Program at Texas A &M University is a transition program for student athletes that are beginning their first year of college . The program allows student athletes to begin their college career in the summer immediately following graduation and take a few courses and learn study and time management skills . The purpose of this study was to determine if transition programs were effective in helping student athletes succeed academically while in college . Chickering’s Theory of Identity Development and literature on learning communities formed the framework of the study . Learning communities and transition programs are becoming popular programs at colleges and universities to help all student transition to college and succeed academically . Also , there was much literature regarding the Academic Progress Rate and the 40 /60 /80 rule which determines the amount of degree plan that must be completed at the end of the sophomore , junior and senior year of college created by the NCAA . These rules are a driving force for academic centers to provide services for the academic success of student athletes . Data were collected both quantitatively and qualitatively with cumulative grade point ratios (GPR’s ) of the student athletes and interviews were conducted with a small number of student athletes in select sports . After the GPR data was analyzed , the student athletes that participated in the program had lower GPR’s than those that did not participate . The qualitative data from the interviews provided positive statements and feelings toward the Summer Bridge Program . Additional research is needed since the area of transition programs for collegiate athletics has not been extensively investigated . |