BYU athlete graduation rates rise with help from academic center

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The Student Athlete Academic Center helps student athletes by providing resources and advisement. As a result of an increased effort to push for academic completion, graduation rates for student athletes are up this year at BYU at 76 percent.

Nick Martineau, a guard on the BYU men’s basketball team, will graduate this April with a degree in business finance.

He said it’s hard to not succeed with all the resources available to student athletes. Martineau said advisers at the Student Athlete Academic Center have played a big part in coordinating academics and sports.

Trevor Wilson, director of the center, said BYU has placed a greater emphasis on sports, especially those with low graduation rates, to succeed academically.

“An effort in our department has been made to focus on students who could be graduating with a little bit of help,” Wilson said. “I feel confident that these numbers are going to rise.”

The Student Athlete Academic Center assists student athletes throughout their time at BYU.

“The beginning is when we start to recruit the student athlete,” Wilson said. “The ending point for us is when they’re in a job as a result of their education.”

The Student Athlete Academic Center offers many resources including advisers, mentors and tutors.

“The middle part is when the student athletes do need resources in the Student Athlete Center that they are absolutely available and put forth in a way that really enhances their ability to perform in the classroom,” Wilson said.

Wilson said students are evaluated on both athletic talent and academic capability.

Advisers assist coaches in the recruiting process and provide information for prospective student athletes. They help current student athletes identify an appropriate major and continually monitor graduation progress.

Mentors assist student athletes with time management, coursework completion and exam preparation. Tutors are available to help students with specific subjects.

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