The ACHIEVE Center represents Drexel University's commitment and dedication to the NCAA's CHAMPS/Life Skills Program. The mission of the NCAA is to maintain intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of the campus educational program and the athlete as an integral part of the student body. With this in mind, the ACHIEVE Center and the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program was created to support the student development initiatives and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting. In the process of achieving this mission, the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program will:
• Support efforts of every student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation.
• Use athletics as preparation for success in life.
• Meet the changing needs of student-athletes.
• Promote respect for diversity among student-athletes.
• Enhance interpersonal relationships in the lives of student-athletes.
• Assist student-athletes in building positive self-esteem.
• Enable student-athletes to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
• Promote ownership by the student-athletes of their academic, athletic, personal and social responsibilities.
• Enhance partnerships between the NCAA, member institutions and their communities for the purpose of education.

The ACHIEVE Center is based on Five Core Values: 

1. Commitment to Academic Achievement (To support the academic progress of the student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation): The primary focus of the Achieve center is the monitoring and provisions of academic support for all student-athletes. A wide array of retention efforts exist and the ACHIEVE Center collaborates with faculty, college advisors and other campus resources to achieve these goals. The commitment to academics is exemplified in the academic resources and programs offered by the Center including advice and advocacy as well as providing an exclusive center for specifically for student-athletes.
2. Commitment to Athletic Leadership (To build philosophical foundations for the development of athletic programs that are broad-based, equitable and dedicated to the well-being of the student-athlete): Drexel student-athletes are encouraged to maximize leadership skills through participation in sports, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA), Department Committees and other venues. SAAC is an integral aspect of the effective leadership of our department and has its own executive board and committee chairs and remain active year round. Mentoring is another opportunity to cultivate leadership skills. Drexel student-athletes can mentor through the ACHIEVE Center's programs "AHA" (Athletes Helping Athletes) and PMs (Evening Peer Mentor Staff). Graduate Assistants offer additional experience as mentors and provide quality service to student-athletes while furthering their education. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) represents the ACHIEVE Center's commitment to athletic leadership on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes are given leadership opportunities through services on the board as well as in their community. Their role is to act as "positive agents of change" and primary liaisons with the Athletic Department administration, representing the issues and concerns of all their peers. Drexel Athletics puts the athletes at the forefront when making a decision on athletic issues. Drexel achieves gender equity, providing women's sports with the same opportunities as the men. The ACHIEVE Center staff makes an effort to attend most contests to support all athletes. SAAC continues to generate ideas on how to increase game attendance.
3. Commitment to Personal Growth (To support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills): The ACHIEVE Center staff consult with student-athletes on a number of issues (time management, stress management, study skills, motivation, decision-making and goals, and other life skills). The CHAMPS Menu was developed as one vehicle to offer personal growth opportunities to teams on a variety or relevant subjects – work shops are arranged for any team that has specific requests. The ACHIEVE Center mentoring program offers opportunities for leadership and personal growth through peer leadership, mentoring, graduate internships, assistantships and employment. Finally, each year there is an Educational Initiative which focuses on one relevant topic such as diversity, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, hazing, performance enhancement drugs, and sexual responsibility etc. Each team participates in an individualized session and speakers are brought in reinforce the message for the entire student-athlete body. Whenever possible, cross campus collaborations are encouraged to bring different student groups together for the purpose of education.
4. Commitment to Career Readiness (To encourage the student-athlete to develop and pursue career and life goals): Drexel Athletics works closely with the staff of the Steinbright Career Development Center (SCDC) to maximize the opportunities for career readiness. Our strong career education component differentiates Drexel from most other Division I student-athlete experiences. The ACHIEVE Center works closely with the SCDC Athletic Liaison to set Co-op cycles and prepare athletes for Co-op and life after college. Speakers are brought in to answer questions on getting a job, interviewing, or general career questions and the Career Connections Network offers a more personalized approach to career mentoring. The goal of this network is to connect current student-athletes with alumni athletes or friends of Drexel Athletics who are willing to provide valuable insight about careers and life after college athletics. Athlete Alumni and friends act as mentors to current Drexel student-athletes and communicate through e-mail, phone or in person.
5. Commitment to Community Partnerships (To engage the student-athlete in service to his/her campus and surrounding communities): The ACHIEVE Staff works with SAAC to scheduling community service projects. Existing projects include Drexel Dream Day, CAA Blood Drive Challenge, National Student-Athlete Day, Hoops for Health and Squash Smarts. Student-athletes collaborate with other campus organizations and student groups to maximize community outreach and strengthen campus partnerships.

ACHIEVE Programs for Student-Athletes

Academic Progress Reports
The ACHIEVE Center staff contacts all instructors who teach student-athletes every term. The staff sends instructors an email in week 2 of the term notifying them, which students in their class participate in intercollegiate sports. The staff requests feedback from the faculty by the end of week 6.

Missed Class Absence Forms (MCAF)
Student-athletes are given a copy of the missed class absence form during priority registration so they know which days they will miss class while in season and chose their classes to avoid excessive absences. Student-athletes give their faculty a copy of the MCAF two weeks before the frist competition and are to identify any conflicts between syllabus and game schedule in advance. Advance planning is required. Student-athletes should seek advocacy from the ACHIEVE staff if there are any disputes about making up missed assignments, exams etc.

Priority Registration
It is a privilege to receive this service and therefore it is expected that all student-athletes register within their 48 hour window. Student-athletes are required to consult their practice schedule and competition schedule (Missed Class Absence Form) as they chose classes. These tools are available during registration to help student-athletes avert missing to much class time by choosing sections that will minimized class absences. Student-athletes should consult with their college advisor and the ACHIEVE staff if they are having problems following their course sequence sheet due to conflicting practices. The ACHIEVE staff will work with the student-athlete and college advisor to problem-solve these situations and develop options.

Student-Athletes Who Are Placed on Academic Probation or Academic Warning
Student-Athletes on academic probation are required to meet with a member of the ACHIEVE Center staff for weekly academic meetings. The staff will incorporate any number of learning supports including but not limited to: study hall, tutoring, faculty meetings, counseling, career testing etc. Student-athletes who miss meetings or other support requirements are subject to sanctions including but not limited to being held from practices or losing Achieve Center priviledges.

Student-Athletes Who have a GPA below 2.00
Student-Athletes are required to meet at the beginning of the academic term with ACHIEVE staff, coach, compliance officer and faculty athletic representative to review academic standing, eligibility, progress towards degree and develop a required academic support program which includes study halls and weekly meetings with tutors and advisors. Coaches are asked to meet with the ACHIEVE staff and student-athlete at mid-term to assess progress and communicate about any concerns. Student-athletes who miss meetings or other support requirements are subject to sanctions including but not limited to being held from practices or losing Achieve Center priviledges.

Student-Athletes who are enrolled in Cooperative Education
Athletes who co-op are responsible for all aspects of employment contracts and informing co-op employers of any schedule conflicts between sports and employment well in advance. If you have pre-season which will start during your employment period and demands significant hours from your day, notify the employer before you take the job. Be proactive and inform your co-operative education coordinator and inform him or her of your participation in sports and the related issues and concerns. Work with your coop coordinator and employer to create a flexible work schedule. If you need to change your co-op cycle, see the Assistant Director of Academics for an official request form to give the Athletic Department Liaison in the Co-op Office. You are responsible for contacting the billing offices and academic advisor in your college to determine if any addition tuition payments will be issued. If you are on an "off cycle" for your co-op (summer - fall) or change from a non-co-op major to a co-op major, you may incur additional expenses for any term in school which is not prescribed by your major code.

Academic Recognition:
Student-Athletes who achieve a 3.2 term grade point average during their season will be awarded with the Colonial Athletic Association Academic Award/Certificate. Formal recognition is given at the half-time Academic Recognition Ceremony during a home basketball game and during Spring term at our annual Scholar-Athlete Awards which includes top team gpa's, top scholar-athletes, conference and university honor rolls and regional or national team or individual scholar athlete awards.

Change of Major Policy for Student-Athletes:
If you decide to change your major, you must make an appointment with the Director of Compliance. You must also speak with your coach. You will be referred to an Assistant to the Dean of the College you are looking to transfer into. We want you to receive pre-screening before you actually change majors/transfer in order that you understand the new course requirements, what you can transfer over from your former major, and how it may affect your eligibility.  You must fill out the Drexel University Athletics Dept. Request to Change Major form available in the Achieve Center.

If you are an athletics scholarship recipient planning to change majors or to change to and from four and five year majors, this must be pre-approved by the Associate Director of Athletics/Senior Woman's Administrator, the Director of Compliance, your coach, and your academic advisor because of the Financial Aid implications and changes in tuition and co-op bills. For this reason, it is the prerogative of these people to request that you wait until the next academic year to change your major.

Student-Athlete Exit Interviews will be administered following your final season of play once you have exhausted your eligibility. We ask for your cooperation in filling out these surveys and hope that you will be honest and candid in your remarks about your Drexel experience. Requests for confidentiality are respected. Individual and group follow up interviews are scheduled with the Faculty Athletics Representative and/or the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics.

The Drexel Athletics Career Connections Network
If you are a current Drexel student-athlete, a former Drexel student-athlete or friend of the program, this may be the opportunity you are looking for… The goal of this network is to connect current student-athletes with alumni athletes or friends of Drexel Athletics who are willing to provide valuable insight about careers and life after college athletics. This is a wonderful way for alumni and friends of Drexel Athletics to support our student-athletes in their career readiness. It is also a great way to stay connected with Drexel University Athletics in a more personal way. Athlete Alumni and friends act as mentors to current Drexel student-athletes and communicate through e-mail, phone or in person. If you are interested in being a mentor or are a student-athlete who would like to have a mentor, please contact Rebecca Weidensaul at (215) 895-6092 or email her at rebecca@drexel.edu.

Links

CAA Spotlight                               

SAAC Website   

Academic Tips and Resources

Student Resource Center (SRC) www.drexel.edu/src 
Departments & Services at DU www.drexel.edu/depts/ 
www.drexel.edu/toc/ 
  

Student Resources

How to Register

Block Scheduling

Senior Exit Interview

Fall Term Calendar

Services:

Academic Calendars: http://www.drexel.edu/src/calendar.asp             
Academic Regulations and Policy: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/src/academic_regulations.asp    
CEO Program: http://www.drexel.edu/oca/I/what_ceo.asp  
Drexel University’s Student Handbook: http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook/Handbook.html   
Foreign Language Placement Exams: http://www.drexel.edu/coas/culturecomm/lang/placement.asp   
Graduation Information: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/src/graduation_information_ucmc.asp   
Schedule of Classes for the Term: http://coreapp1.drexel.edu/webtms/   
Student Resource Forms: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/src/forms.asp    
University Catalog www.drexel.edu/provost/catalog
Veigel Calculator: http://www.units.muohio.edu/saass/gpa_tool.htm    

Departments:

Book Store: http://drexel.bkstore.com/    
Bursars Office: http://www.drexel.edu/depts/bursar/default.asp     
Center for Civic Engagement: http://www.drexel.edu/cce/    
College/School Pages: http://www.drexel.edu/colleges_schools.asp=   
Counseling: http://www.drexel.edu/studentlife/ch/   
Drexel Learning Center: http://www.drexel.edu/dlc or www.tutors.dlc.drexel.edu     
Drexel Student Health Center: http://www.drexel.edu/StudentLife/ch/HC_Main.html  
Disability Services: http://drexel.edu/disability/   
English and Language Center: http://www.drexel.edu/elc/  
Financial Aid: http://www.drexel.edu/financialaid/  
International Students and Scholars Office: http://www.drexel.edu/isss/    
IRT: http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/
Off Campus Housing: http://www.drexel.edu/offcampushousing     
Registrars Office: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/registrar/
Residential Living: http://www.drexel.edu/rlo/
Steinbright Career Development Center: http://www.drexel.edu/scdc/    
Study Abroad: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/uwide/studyabroad/
Writing Center: http://www.drexel.edu/writingcenter/