The Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes (ASP) is a service of American University's Academic Support Center. The program works with student-athletes to excel in the classroom, while they also make a significant time commitment to their respective athletic program. Staff members in the ASP can also assist faculty in working with student-athletes.

What Faculty and Staff Members Should Expect from Student-Athletes

Travel Letters

At the beginning of each semester student-athletes will deliver a letter of introduction, which will have the semester's travel schedule on the back. Regular practice times will also be included. Faculty members are asked to sign a travel card, acknowledging that they have received the letter.

Post-Season Play Updates

When an individual or team competes successfully enough in the regular season to move onto post-season/championship play, the student-athletes will deliver a short memo confirming this to the professor. Due to the time constraints sometimes surrounding post-season play, professors may receive this memo via e-mail.

Timely requests

If a student-athlete has a major conflict in the class, such as missing an exam due to travel or competition, the student-athlete is expected to make arrangements prior to the date missed. If the faculty member prefers, a staff member of the Academic Support Program is available to proctor exams when needed. Please contact the ASP office for more information.

What Faculty Members can Expect from the Academic Support Program

Progress Reports

Please note the change in progress reporting for 2011-2012

Approximately half way through the semester, the ASP will email progress reports directly to professors. 

Although progress reports are sent once per semester, faculty members are encouraged to contact the ASP staff at any time with questions or concerns regarding a student-athlete.

Exam Proctoring

If a student-athlete will miss an exam or an in-class assessment due to competition or travel, the student is expected to make arrangements with the faculty members. Faculty should feel free to contact the ASP office if they would like an ASP staff member to proctor an exam. When an ASP staff member proctors an exam, students take it according to the conditions set forth by the faculty member. 

Injury Report

If a student-athlete suffers an injury as a result of the student's participation in athletics, and that injury is severe enough to affect the student's class attendance, professors will be contacted.

Other Responsibilities of the ASP

Monitoring Study Hall

All first year and transfer students are required to complete study hall hours each week. Some upper-class students continue in the study hall program after their first semester.

Guided Study

The ASP staff meets weekly with students who need continued support with study skills and time management. Guided study students may be first-year, transfer, or upper-class students. 

Tutoring Services

In addition to referring students to the Writing Lab, the Writing Center, the Mathematics & Statistics Lab or Supplemental Instruction, ASP also provides individual peer tutoring for student-athletes.

NCAA Compliance

The ASP office assists in ensuring AU student-athletes meet the academic requirements for NCAA eligibility each semester. All student-athletes are required to make adequate progress towards their degrees to remain eligible for athletic competition. Progress towards degree audits are conducted for each student-athlete after each semester. The NCAA defines adequate progress towards degree in terms of GPA and number of credits toward a degree.