Academic Success

The academic success program was launched to aid the adjustment process for incoming student-athletes.

The pillars of this project were two-fold: first, to bring academic excellence to the forefront of our incoming student-athletes minds; and secondly, to inform our student-athletes about all the resources and support that will help them achieve academic success.

The main focus is to get student-athletes comfortable talking about academics, reinforce the support they have from the athletic department, as well as discuss the resources available including faculty advising, mental health, student accessibility services and SLC (specifically peer tutoring, PASS and study skill workshops).

The program begins with a self-selected learning opportunity such as “Time Management Techniques for Success," “Math Workshop” or “Effective Note Taking for Lectures” workshops followed up with transition meetings with the athletic department's programs advisor.

The most important thing is taking the time to make a connection. Sometimes it can take awhile for students to put what we discuss into daily use. A great example is incorporating daily review before and after class. For many first-years this was not something they did in high school, rather it was limited to completing homework and studying for tests. Everyone can acknowledge that review is extremely helpful, but can be challenging to make it part of your daily schedule. So sometimes just making them aware of best practices which they will settle into later on.

Athletic Probation

After we receive the standing reports, we reach out to student-athletes who have had a term GPA below 2.0 and advise them that they have been placed on athletic probation. Athletic probation is a departmental status to head off an official standing and a means to help support their success initiatives. This process is simply designed to alert a student-athlete to academic difficulties in time to help them identify the areas where they may be experiencing problems and determine how best to address them. Athletic probation meet with the athletic department's programs advisor to help formulate a successful academic success program. They would also meet with an academic advisor, their head coach as well as utilizing student life academic supports.

Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMs)

The Ridgeback Student-Athlete Mentors (SAMs) are goal-oriented varsity athletes who want to give back to their campus community and who are sensitive to the academic and social challenges faced by first-year student-athletes, as they transition into university life. The program runs from January to April, with a focus on personal development through student engagement, personal goal setting and access to campus resources. The idea of Ridgebacks student-athlete mentors is really meant to ensure that our student-athletes are looking out for each other and that nobody slips through the cracks.

Historical Success of the Program

The program began in 2014-15, with 29 recipients of the Ontario Tech All-Academic Award (3.5 GPA or higher). Improving each year, the Ridgebacks had a record 83 student-athletes that received the award in 2021-22. Comparing the OUA academic award (3.7 GPA or higher) from 2014-15 to 2021-22, Ontario Tech saw an increase from nine to 53 recipients. The national award, U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian (3.7 GPA or higher) also saw an increase from 16 in 2014-15 to record-high 40 in 2020-21.

2021-22 Academic Success at a Glance

Number of athletes - 210

Average Academic Year GPA for our student-athletes - 3.13

Number of Ontario Tech student-athletes with at least one term with a GPA of 3.5 or above - 99 (47%)

Number of Ontario Tech Academic award winners with a year-long cGPA of 3.5 or above - 86 (40%)

Number of student-athletes with at least one term above 4.0 GPA - 39 (18.5%)