Many resources are available for the benefit of college athletes and those who are striving to someday play a college sport. These resources connect athletes with each other alongside other college students, alumni, and necessary support resources. Check out this page for up to date news and information about timely events and relevant posts that are relatable to a number of athletes from all different kinds of backgrounds. You can also comment below.

#RealCollege

The #RealCollege Twitter hashtag helps all kinds of college students deal with typical problems they might face. The hashtag is linked to an account called Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. #RealCollege describes themselves as a movement that “builds America’s future by reinvesting in students.” The account highlights issues from financial insecurity, working while in school, and making sure students most basic needs can be met. The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice’s Twitter account directly interacts with users who post the hashtag #RealCollege. You can follow them on Twitter or visit their website, which is linked below.

Name, Image, and Likeness Rules

The NCAA recently passed a new rule allowing college athletes new ways to benefit from their name, image, and likeness. This is an ongoing discussion, and details are still in progress, but it is expected that the changes go into effect in the Fall of 2021, and will allow certain athletes to benefit and make money from appearing in commercials, promoting themselves, or promoting products. The current NCAA website gives athletes a look at what these changes could look like, and also lays out what the current rules are and how they differ between Division I, Division II, and Division III.

Scholarships

Scholarships vary depending on the size of the school. Only about 2% of high school athletes receive academic scholarships, but the scholarships can cover tuition fees, room and board, and cost of textbooks. Only Division I and Division II schools offer academic scholarships, but while Division II schools cannot offer academic scholarships they can provide student-athletes with financial aid and incentives to come. These can include Merit-Based scholarships and grants. Frequently, Division III coaches can work with admissions counselors to offer a scholarship package to a prospective athlete they are interested in. Some athletic scholarships can be renewed on a year to year basis, while others may only cover one season at first. To learn more visit the current NCAA website’s page on scholarship information.

Transfers, Waivers, Hardships

A 2018 study found that about 39% of college athletes transfer at least once before graduation, mainly for athletic purposes. NCAA rules usually require athletes to redshirt for one season upon transferring, but there are exceptions to this rule. Transfer rules vary depending on the year in which an athlete is transferring and the size of the school, but athletes transferring due to extenuating circumstances (such as their original program being punished by the NCAA) or transferring as a graduate student while retaining athletic eligibility could avoid having to sit out for a year. Some sports allow a “transfer portal”, which has changed the landscape of college transfers by allowing them instant eligibility.

To learn more about the transfer portal, visit http://www.ncaa.org/static/champion/what-the-ncaa-transfer-portal-is/

Athletes must remain in good academic standing to maintain athletic eligibility. Good academic standing can include maintaining a certain grade point average or completing a certain amount of credits pushing them closer toward graduating. While the process is different between Division III, and Divisions I and II, athletes can request a waiver to remain eligible even if they are to not meet these academic requirements. Personal hardships or medical issues are among the most common reasons athletes may be eligible for an academic waiver.

To learn more, visit the NCAA’s website at http://www.ncaa.org/remaining-eligible-academic-waivers

Academic Support and Student Health Resources

Most schools offer some sort of academic support for their student athletes as well as resources for mental health. In recent years, there has been an increase of mental health professionals that work in athletic departments and work directly with athletes, recognizing that they have unique needs that are different from the rest of the student body. The NCAA Sports Science Institute provides a series of educational resources meant to provide mental health support for student athletes, and that can be found here.