Stragegies to Successfully Transition the Male Athlete from High School into College

Student Union 335

Minority athletes who are recruited by predominantly white institutions (PWI’s) for sports are often sold the dream of playing in front of large crowds and being on TV. Most of these students come from low-income neighborhoods with schools that lack the adequate resources to prepare them to be academically successful at these institutions. The University of Pennsylvania recently conducted a study (Harper, 2013) on the college graduation rates of minority athletes from PWI’s in major sports conferences. Harper found that 96% of the universities surveyed found that black male student-athletes graduate at lower rates than student athletes overall. Harrison et al. (2006) attributes the low college graduation rate among African American males to the inadequate preparation at the secondary school level. A majority of these athletes are recruited from schools that are academically lower performing and lack adequate resources to prepare them for the rigor of college-level education. Reid and Moore (2008) agree that African American males coming out of these lower performing schools are less exposed to the academic rigor necessary to make the transition into college and becoming successful students and athletes. This workshop aims to equip school counselors and school educators with strategies to best help minority athletes mentally, emotionally, and academically transition from high school to college. Minority athletes attempt to assimilate themselves into these traditionally middle to upper-class PWI college ecosystems that does not reflect nor support their cultural upbringing. These young student-athletes often struggle to fit in socially, keep up with the work academically, and feel excluded emotionally at these institutions. This workshop discusses applicable methods and techniques school counselors, school administrators and educators, parents, and community officials can use to support minority athletes and to give them tools to use for a strong start in college. Attendants will learn the importance of the student’s athletic identity and its use in helping them find their sense of purpose and inclusion at a PWI. Along with skill development, emphasis will be placed on cultural, ethnic, gender, and racial factors that school, college and community professionals should be aware of to effectively support the social, emotional, and academic well-being of these students to help them achieve a successful transition to the next level.