Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College

The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors that influenced first-semester college-athletes’ ability to succeed academically in the transition to collegiate life, focusing specifically on not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes co...

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Main Authors: Joseph Milone, Deb Risisky, Jim MacGregor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bowling Green State University 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Athlete Development and Experience
Online Access:https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/vol6/iss3/1/
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author Joseph Milone
Deb Risisky
Jim MacGregor
author_facet Joseph Milone
Deb Risisky
Jim MacGregor
author_sort Joseph Milone
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors that influenced first-semester college-athletes’ ability to succeed academically in the transition to collegiate life, focusing specifically on not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or barriers during their first semester in college. Interviews (N = 9) were conducted with first-year college-athletes at a Division II regional university in the northeast United States over a two-year period to identify not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or barriers during their first semester in college. Five themes emerged from the analysis of the data: (a) expectations, (b) accountability, (c) responsibility, (d) resources, and (e) support. The findings suggest opportunities for athletic departments, student affairs, and faculty to provide time management and organization skill training, help identify expectations, and encourage the use of resources to support students’ academic journey.
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issn 2642-9276
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publisher Bowling Green State University
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series Journal of Athlete Development and Experience
spelling doaj-art-d27862b0f7fc4cacaadc4bd2cf6093362025-08-20T02:33:51ZengBowling Green State UniversityJournal of Athlete Development and Experience2642-92762024-11-016310.25035/jade.06.03.01Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in CollegeJoseph MiloneDeb RisiskyJim MacGregor The purpose of this study was to better understand the factors that influenced first-semester college-athletes’ ability to succeed academically in the transition to collegiate life, focusing specifically on not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or barriers during their first semester in college. Interviews (N = 9) were conducted with first-year college-athletes at a Division II regional university in the northeast United States over a two-year period to identify not only the factors that contributed to academic success but also those the athletes considered to be challenges or barriers during their first semester in college. Five themes emerged from the analysis of the data: (a) expectations, (b) accountability, (c) responsibility, (d) resources, and (e) support. The findings suggest opportunities for athletic departments, student affairs, and faculty to provide time management and organization skill training, help identify expectations, and encourage the use of resources to support students’ academic journey.https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/vol6/iss3/1/
spellingShingle Joseph Milone
Deb Risisky
Jim MacGregor
Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
Journal of Athlete Development and Experience
title Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
title_full Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
title_fullStr Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
title_full_unstemmed Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
title_short Navigating the Transition: Factors Impacting Academic Success and Challenges Faced by First Semester Student Athletes in College
title_sort navigating the transition factors impacting academic success and challenges faced by first semester student athletes in college
url https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/vol6/iss3/1/
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AT jimmacgregor navigatingthetransitionfactorsimpactingacademicsuccessandchallengesfacedbyfirstsemesterstudentathletesincollege