Athletes Receive New Registration Date

Underclassmen athletes will now have a better opportunity to enroll in classes that do not conflict with practices.
Photo Courtesy of McKayla Phillips

Requirements to succeed in college are determined through attendance, tests, projects, and homework. Imagine trying to balance all of these elements, all while fitting time in for team practices and games.

Lately, there have been a lot of complaints regarding conflicting class and practice obligations. For most athletes, their day begins with an early morning workout, followed by classes and meetings, and ending with an evening practice. Practices start around the same time as classes, and athletes are conflicted about which is the more pressing obligation. Because of this, the faculty executive board approved a motion to offer early enrollment to student athletes.

This has been implemented this October for spring classes. William Miller, associate professor of health and physical education and faculty athletic representative, and Kevin Garrett, director of athletics, state, “This fall, student athletes will register during the same time as veterans. This should allow student athletes to take courses during the day, so there is no interference with athletic practice schedules.”

Typically, honors students enroll first, followed by veterans, disability, and Student Support Services students. Following this, students then enroll according to status. This semester, honors students enroll on Oct. 29, and athletes will now be able to choose classes beginning Oct. 30.

Therefore, instead of underclassmen athletes having to wait and worry about early scheduled classes running out of space, they are now able to have first picks of their classes and schedules. Miller and Garrett summarize the scheduling conflict by stating, “Faculty were simply asking what they could do on their end with course offerings to better assist the student athletes.”

Some evening classes occurred at the same time as games and practices. This forced student athletes to choose between attending class or attending games and practices. The concern was first introduced during a faculty executive board meeting. After the initial mention, Garrett and Miller attended the next meeting in order to hear the concern and offer possible solutions.

Their response states that “The undergraduate student population has changed at Concord. This semester, nearly 1 out of every 4 undergraduate students participates in an intercollegiate sport at this university.” Junior Zayvion Lawson, a running back on Concord University’s football team, says that in the past he has experienced conflicts in his class and practice schedule.

He says that he was conflicted in his obligations because while he understands that class attendance is important, he also has sports scholarships to maintain. Lawson says that he found last semester difficult because he missed out on crucial time in the classroom. “I wasn’t getting that one-on-one time that I needed with my professors,” he says. After practice, Zayvion had a small window of time to catch up. Many times, Lawson was only running on a few hours. “I had to struggle to catch up, but it wasn’t impossible. I suggest that students definitely schedule their classes early on, keeping in mind that academia is important to maintain any type of scholarship.”

Former baseball player Nate Werner says has faced this issue as well, but he was able to find time to practice. “Communicating with your professors and coaches are very important,” he says. Werner says that he would inform his coach that he would not be able to practice, and find the time to put in extra practice hours. He says that normally, coaches are very lenient. One member of Concord University’s softball team even says “Coach usually tries to work practice around classes. No matter what, you always go to class first.” Her coach allows her to show up when she can, or find a different time slot for you to practice.

Former basketball player Babe Murphy, agrees with that statement, but says that games are absolutely crucial to attend.

Football coach Max Lilly says that he has not heard many complaints this semester, and has had few conflicts this season. “Class always comes first, and we work around it, and don’t hold it against them.” Vice President Dr. Peter Viscusi acknowledges that “This is a problem exists on every college and university campus.”