Student Athlete Perceptions of Academic Success and Athlete Stereotypes on Campus.

Abstract

Athletes must successfully balance the dual role of athlete and student despite time-constraints and competing external pressures from both athletic and academic entities. The purpose of this study was to examine how athletes believed professors perceived and treated them at a small, private, comprehensive NCAA Division 11 university. For this investigation, 252 athletes completed a survey, which provided both quantitative and qualitative data. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the quantitative data sets and inductive analysis was used to develop themes from the qualitative responses. The participants in this study reported positive academic habits like attending class regularly, turning assignments in on time and respectable grade point averages. Even with the evidence of the positive academic habits and success, some data such as negative remarks made by professors in class and issues surrounding missed class due to team travel revealed the presence of an athletic stigma on this campus. Although this stigma existed, the participants' reported an overall perception and treatment from professors as positive with only 12% of the participants indicating a negative perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]