MSU adopts CHAMP/Life Skills Program to provide enhanced support to student athletes in balancing their academic, sports team, and personal commitments
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Tara Rienecker, 973.655.5125
rieneckert@mail.montclair.edu
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frechettea@mail.montclair.edu
Montclair, NJ: A new addition to the MSU Athletics Department is in the works to provide year-round programming to enhance the student-athlete experience in the areas of academic and athletic excellence, personal and career development, and service for their campus and surrounding communities. MSU was accepted to the CHAMPS/Life Skills program in the fall of 2005 – joining some 545 other colleges and universities who participate in this special initiative.
In 1994, collaboration between the NCAA Foundation and the Division IA Athletic Director's Association led to the creation of the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program (Challenging Athletes' Minds for Personal Success). During that year, 46 NCAA institutions took part in the first orientation for administrators from around the country.
Today, the NCAA Education Outreach staff oversees the further development of the program, and offers services, support and programs to participating institutions throughout the year. The CHAMPS/Life Skills Program is supported through the promotional and financial efforts of the NCAA Leadership Advisory Board and the NCAA national office.
Tara Rienecker, an academic advisor for athletes at MSU, will be the Coordinator of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program and will be convening a CHAMPS advisory committee for recommendations on campus programming and resource assistance. "In regards to CHAMP/Life Skills, MSU already has many of the components and resources needed for the program," she said. Rienecker, who just returned from her orientation which took place in Phoenix, Arizona, is enthusiastic about the launch of CHAMP/Life Skills.
"Student athletes face a unique set of challenges in that they must make a huge time commitment to succeed academically and athletically, as well as be able to focus on their own personal growth and development," said Rienecker. This program is specifically designed to give athletes the tools and strategies to succeed in all aspects of their college experience," she added.
The NCAA foundation implemented this program in order to create a total development program for student-athletes. Seeking to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting, the program promotes: the use of athletics as preparation for success in life, meeting the changing needs of the student-athletes, respect for diversity among student-athletes, the enhancement of interpersonal relationships in the lives of student-athletes, assisting student-athletes in building positive self-esteem, encouragement for the development of leadership skills, and enabling student-athletes to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Karen Pennington, vice president for Student Development and Campus Life, along with Rienecker and Holly Gera, felt the program was a good fit for MSU's student-athlete education. "We are extremely proud of our status as a Division III institution, as it allows us to concentrate on our students as true 'student athletes'- not under emphasizing the true purpose of a college education because of athletics. The CHAMPS/Life Skills program will help us go further in our efforts to train and develop young people to be well-rounded citizens of the state of NJ, the USA and the world," said Pennington.
Institutions that participate in the program are provided with instructional materials and supplemental resources, which support a student's development covering five areas including: academics, career development, community service, athletics, and personal development. "My hope is that the program will engage the student-athletes interest through consistent and interesting programming. With a strong commitment to academic success, I'd like to think that this program will help a student-athlete's overall well-being," Rienecker said.
Gera, director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said, "We are very excited about joining the CHAMPS/Life Skills program. It will provide us with a template to coordinate our student-athlete educational programs in a meaningful and comprehensive way." The planning phase for MSU's CHAMPS/Life Skills program is underway and will be implemented in Fall, 2006."
For additional information, contact Tara Rienecker at (973) 655-5125, or send an email to rieneckert@mail.montclair.edu.
Montclair State is New Jersey's second largest and fastest growing university. It offers the advantages of a large university--a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum with a global focus, a broad variety of superior graduate programs, and a diverse faculty and student body--combined with a small college's attention to students. More information on the University is available on its Web site at www.montclair.edu.MSU is located at the intersection of Valley Road and Normal Avenue in Montclair. The campus is one mile south of the junction of routes 3 and 46, 14 miles west of New York City.
March 15, 2006
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