Abstract
There are many aspects of college life to consider for student-athletes. Many students play sports in college, but the percentage that goes on to compete professionally is small. Therefore, the academic experience is vital in preparing student-athletes for success after college. The National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes. Without the governance of this organization, student-athletes run the risk of neglecting their academics and only focusing on their sport. The NCAA eligibility rules state "student-athletes must meet academic standard throughout their careers on campus to remain eligible to participate in their sport" (NCAA, 2017). Not only do studentathletes must be above a certain GPA requirement, but also must complete certain degr~e percentages after their sophomore, junior and senior year. These rules are put into place so that student-athletes put equal amounts of focus and energy on academics and athletics. With all these other factors being part of the student-athlete experience, it is important to educate athletic departments and those who work with student-athletes on how to make the collegiate experience better. The purpose of this study investigated whether college athletics is helping or hindering former and current student-athletes who are or have attended a large academically challenging public university in Northern California. A survey conducted produced 81 responses from former and current studentathletes who have and were currently attending the site of this study. Of those 81 respondents 46 or 56.9% were current student-athletes, and 35 or 43.2% were former student-athletes. Demographics were collected to determine which sport, gender, ethnicity, and academic year for each participants of the survey. Different themes emerged from the data; these were coaches, academic advisors, and the NCAA which are discussed throughout the rest of the study. The findings of this research show that student-athletes rely on those in leadership positions to increase the possibility of a positive collegiate experience. Student-athletes look for guidance from leadership figures to make the best possible decisions to be successful in their sport, socially, and to complete their academic goals. With the help of coaches, academic support services, and the NCAA, student-athletes who are guided in making decisions increase their ability in obtaining a desired bachelor's degree.