Student-Athlete Life Skills Programming

For more information, please contact:

Meghan Morphy
(814) 871-7664
foran001@gannon.edu
or
NCAA
Life Skills
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN
46206-6222
"Inherently, each one of us has the substance within to achieve whatever our goals and dreams define. What is missing from each of us is the training, education, knowledge and insight to utilize what we already have."
~ Mark Twain

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 Life Skills Program was created to support the student development initiatives of its member institutions and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the university setting.

In the process of achieving this mission, the 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.
  • Encourage the development of leadership skills.
Participating institutions in the Life Skills Program are provided with instructional materials and supplemental resources, which support a student-athlete's development in five areas: academics, athletics, personal development, career development and community service.

Commitment Statements

Commitment to Academic Excellence
To support the academic progress of the student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation.

Commitment to Athletic Excellence
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.

Commitment to Personal Development
To support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills.

Commitment to Career Development
To encourage the student-athlete to develop and pursue career and life goals.

Commitment to Service
To engage the student-athlete in service to his or her campus and surrounding communities.
 
Life Skills Programming - Sample Semester
Gannon logo
 Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors
September Support Services
Thursday, Aug. 23 - 3:00 PM
 		 Hosting Recruits
Thursday, Sept. 16 - 10:00 AM		 Career Fair
Tuesday, Sept. 21 - 10 AM to 4 PM
Hammermill Center		 Lead Your Team, Make Your Mark
Thursday, Sept. 30 - 6:00 PM
October Navigating the Dining Hall
Thursday, Oct. 7 - 7:00 PM
Dining Hall		 Job & Internship Searching
Tuesday, Oct. 12 - 3:00 PM		 Job & Internship Searching
Tuesday, Oct. 12 - 3:00 PM		 Graduate School Information Fair
TBD
November College Resume
Success Center Drop-In		 Elevator Pitch
Thursday, Nov. 11 - 10 AM or 2 PM		 Interview Prep & Response Strategies
Thursday, Nov. 4 - 5:00 PM		 Networking & Developing an Elevator Pitch
Wednesday, Nov. 7 - 5:00 PM
December Finances
Tuesday, Dec. 7 - 11:00 AM		 Young Alum Network Night
Wednesday, Dec. 1 or Monday, Dec. 6		 Young Alum Network Night
Wednesday, Dec. 1 or Monday, Dec. 6		 Young Alum Network Night
Wednesday, Dec. 1 or Monday, Dec. 6

Fall Life Skills Descriptions

Freshmen

Support Services
● What services are available to students such as the student success center (which includes academic advising, career exploration and development, Disability Support Services and Student Support Services (TRIO)), Counseling Center, Writing
Resource Center, and the Stem Center.

Navigating the Dining Hall*
● We will be bringing in a nutritionist to help navigate healthy eating options available on campus and talk to the students about smart meal choices.

College Resume
● Students will be required to meet with someone in the Academic Success Center to go over their resumes. They can ask questions, get help working on it, or anything else related to their resume.

Finances
● We will be bringing in someone from PNC/KeyBank to talk about college finances and provide students with money tips.

Sophomores

Hosting Recruits
● Talking with Coaches and Graduate Assistants on how to navigate tricky situations that might happen while a recruit is on campus, programs, and activities that might be available, and how to effectively host prospective students.
Job and Internship Searching**

Job & Internship Searching
● Working with the career center and how to navigate the job/internship search and how to create good LinkedIN and Handshake profiles to be noticed by prospective employers.
Elevator Pitch**

Elevator Pitch
● Learn how to sell yourself! This workshop will cover how to give effective elevator pitches so students will know how to introduce themself while networking.

Juniors

Career Fair
● This event is being held for all of campus. It will take place in the Hammermill Center. Recruiters and companies will be coming in and providing information about their company, job openings, and other things.

Job and Internship Searching**
● We will be working with the career center and how to navigate the job/internship search and how to create good LinkedIn and Handshake profiles to be noticed by prospective employers.

Interview Prep & Response Strategies**
● Partnering with the Career center to go over interview practice questions, what to wear and any other questions students may have about interviews.

Seniors

Lead Your Team, Make Your Mark
● Learn what kind of leader you are, how different leaders can come together to make a team work together and how to make an impact on your team as a leader on your team.

Graduate School Information Fair
● Still waiting on information from the Career center for this event. Networking & Developing an Elevator Pitch**

Networking & Developing an Elevator Pitch
● We will be partnering with Career Center and going over why networking is so important, especially for some majors, how they can use their professional connections to make it further in their careers, and any other questions they might have about networking.