2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty vote; varsity athletes to receive Group 6 credit
By: Jessica Adams
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: News
At Monday's faculty meeting, a long-awaited motion finally passed: varsity athletes can now receive Group 6 credit.
The new distribution requirement states that "the equivalent of one-fourth course PE credit may be earned in any semester through participation in a season of a varsity sport." However, athletes can not gain credit for more than four semesters of athletic involvement.
Advanced notice of the motion was given at the December faculty meeting. In January, the new distribution requirement was proposed by Melanie Finney of the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning.
Finney said that coaches would make the ultimate decision as to whether their athletes would be able to receive credit. Athletes on larger teams, like the football team, may exert different amounts of effort depending on how often they play in games. Coaches would also be able to decide whether an injured athlete would be able to receive credit for the work they had accomplished up to the time of their injury.
Although the vote was not unanimous, there was a definite majority. Adam Cohen, men's swim coach, said, "I personally think it makes a lot of sense at different levels. We're already doing a lot of things we do in fitness classes." Cohen thinks that most athletes won't waive the requirement a lot, but some will take advantage of the opportunity.
Sophomore football player Curtis Moore agrees that athletes deserve academic credit for their work. "On a typical day of football we're spending two to three hours working out," Moore said. "Then during the off season I work out one to two hours a day, five days a week."
The new requirement will also help free up time in athletes' academic schedules.
Kevin Bunge, another sophomore football player, said "For someone devoting 40 hours a week to one athletic sport to go and get an additional four or five athletic credits is an unnecessary time commitment."
The new distribution requirement has yet to receive a date to be put in motion.
The new distribution requirement has yet to receive a date to be put in motion.
- Ben Solomon contributed to this article
The new distribution requirement states that "the equivalent of one-fourth course PE credit may be earned in any semester through participation in a season of a varsity sport." However, athletes can not gain credit for more than four semesters of athletic involvement.
Advanced notice of the motion was given at the December faculty meeting. In January, the new distribution requirement was proposed by Melanie Finney of the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning.
Finney said that coaches would make the ultimate decision as to whether their athletes would be able to receive credit. Athletes on larger teams, like the football team, may exert different amounts of effort depending on how often they play in games. Coaches would also be able to decide whether an injured athlete would be able to receive credit for the work they had accomplished up to the time of their injury.
Although the vote was not unanimous, there was a definite majority. Adam Cohen, men's swim coach, said, "I personally think it makes a lot of sense at different levels. We're already doing a lot of things we do in fitness classes." Cohen thinks that most athletes won't waive the requirement a lot, but some will take advantage of the opportunity.
Sophomore football player Curtis Moore agrees that athletes deserve academic credit for their work. "On a typical day of football we're spending two to three hours working out," Moore said. "Then during the off season I work out one to two hours a day, five days a week."
The new requirement will also help free up time in athletes' academic schedules.
Kevin Bunge, another sophomore football player, said "For someone devoting 40 hours a week to one athletic sport to go and get an additional four or five athletic credits is an unnecessary time commitment."
The new distribution requirement has yet to receive a date to be put in motion.
The new distribution requirement has yet to receive a date to be put in motion.
- Ben Solomon contributed to this article
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