Life After Athletics – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
by Emily Meyer, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Student-athletes live two concurring lives – one in academics and one in sports. While time as an NCAA Division I athlete is capped at four years, training and competition tends to be the focus of many student-athletes while the opportunity is available. But at Ohio State, the end of an athletic career does not mark the end of their time at the university as a student and the opportunity to continue their education.
As a member of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), Ohio State is one of six Big Ten universities to offer the NCAS’ Degree Completion and Community Service Program (DCP) in which former student-athletes are offered the opportunity to return, with tuition assistance, to finish their higher education after exhausting their athletic eligibility. In the program, each qualified returning OSU student-athlete receives tuition reimbursement for their involvement with university and community service programs.
The DCP has seen more than 26,455 student-athletes from around the country return to complete their degrees and 11,673 had graduated as of 2006. Ohio State, who has participated in the program since 1994, leads the nation as more than 100 former Buckeyes have come back to complete their undergrad coursework and earn a college degree, including former men’s basketball standout Clark Kellogg, the university’s first student-athlete to join the program.
“We are fortunate at Ohio State to have the ability to provide an opportunity for our former student-athletes who left the university before completing their coursework to come back and finish their degree,” Miechelle Willis, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Student Services and Sports Administration, said.
In 2007, four former Buckeyes have or are scheduled to graduate from Ohio State through the Degree Completion Program. Jennifer Selfinger (2003-06) of the women’s golf team graduated in the winter while James Cotton (1998-99), former member of the football team, will graduate Sunday at Spring Commencement. Adam Olds (2003) and Michael Wiley (1996-99), both former OSU football players, are scheduled to graduate after completing coursework in the summer.
As the former Buckeyes continue to graduate, more look to the program for aid in achieving their degree. This summer Ohio State will welcome back Nate Guenin (2003-06) and Scott May (2001-04) of the men’s hockey team, George Reese (1999-2000) of the men’s basketball team and Jeremy Wurtzman (2002-04) of men’s tennis into the Degree Completion Program.
While the DCP helps the student-athletes complete their higher education it also encourages volunteer service within the university and community. Each participant is required to dedicate up to 12 hours of work or service hours each week to receive tuition assistance. Nationally, the former student-athletes involved in the Degree Completion Program have tabulated more than 15.7 million hours of service since the program’s outset 20 years ago. While continuing to test their skills and intellect in the classroom, the qualified DCP students from across the country have spread their knowledge to the community by mentoring more than 14 million youths.
At Ohio State, the former student-athletes act as mentors to Columbus youth as they visit local schools to discuss the importance of staying in school and continuing their education. They also function as proctors at OSU student-athlete study tables and mentors for freshmen student-athletes. Through advising the community’s youths and university’s freshman student-athletes, the former student-athletes impart their knowledge and experience to future contributors of society.
“We believe there is a lot of value to having the former student-athletes on our campus,” Willis said. “Not only do we get the chance to help them finish what they started, but we believe our current student-athletes benefit as well. Many times the returning athletes have opportunities to interact with our current student-athletes to share their experiences and to share why they feel it was important for them to come back. All are great lessons for our students.”
To be considered for this program at Ohio State, former student-athletes must have a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA) and have 45 or fewer degree hours remaining to qualify for the program. Once accepted, they must achieve a quarter GPA of 2.00, maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA and show good work performance to receive tuition assistance. As part of the program, a counselor from Ohio State’s Student-Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO) creates an academic plan and offers free tutoring for the returning student to help them stay on schedule.
Working on his degree in psychology, six-time NCAA men’s gymnastics champion and three-time Olympic team member Blaine Wilson returned to Ohio State to finish his coursework. After leaving the university to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., he viewed completing his degree as another goal to achieve. Back in the gym and training under men’s gymnastics head coach Miles Avery, Wilson also donates his time to coaching the current Buckeye gymnasts.
“I came back to Ohio State because it was offering this great opportunity,” Wilson said. “Graduating is one of my few goals I have yet to accomplish. Plus I love working with the guys in the gym and want to give back to this program I’ve been a part of for so long.”
With the growth of the Degree Completion Program, Ohio State is proud to see many of its student-athletes continuing their education. While victory in the athletic arena is celebrated, the university holds achievement in the classroom equally important and remains committed to providing a quality education to both its current and former student-athletes.
