The University of Cincinnati is committed to the total development of its student-athletes, and its comprehensive programs for Student Services are evidence of that commitment.
UC TEAM - University of Cincinnati Together in Excellence for Athletes through Mentoring
The UC Team is a program developed through the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department in which members of the community and staff serve as powerful role models for incoming freshmen-level student-athletes. The mission of the program is to promote the academic, athletic, and personal development of each student-athlete, thus empowering them with the tools to be successful throughout life. Personal attention and interaction are the main focus of the program. The student-athlete meets once or twice a month with their mentor to discuss among other things; time management, value identification, personal finance, careers/majors, gambling, sexual responsibility, sportsmanship, and nutrition. In the end, the student-athlete will be more focused on responsibility, personal development, and will have a better overall experience at UC.
Personal Development: To support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, workshops are held to help promote ownership by the student-athletes of their personal and social responsibilities. Program topics include respect, making the right choices, alcohol, awareness, nutrition and other subjects to help meet the changing needs of student-athletes.
Career Development: The interests and strengths of each student-athlete are continually measured to prepare the student-athlete for a career beyond college. In addition to aiding career exploration and placement, this program provided assistance in securing employment opportunities and internships.
Workshops: The athletic department offers career development workshops throughout the academic year. The SAAC representatives inform students when and where these workshops will be offered. Individual coaches may schedule workshops at a time that is more appropriate for their team.
Resume’ Booklet: Beginning their senior year, all student-athletes are encouraged to give a copy of their resume' to Senior Woman's Administrator Stephanie Rousseau. These resumes are then distributed to former student-athletes and interested employers.
Resources Available: Information regarding job fairs, the Career Development Center, job opportunities, etc. are available in the Academic Services Office on the fifth floor of the Lindner Athletic Center. Student-athletes should begin the career planning process early in their college experience and work their plan through their senior year.
Financial Management
AXA Workshops: College is a time of many firsts for students - including the first time they will be making an important financial decision on their own. Many students are totally unprepared for the financial responsibilities they face. AXA Financial, along with NCAA Division I schools, developed a series of workshops to help students better manage their money. These interactive workshops begin with "Keeping Score" and are designed to help the student-athlete through their four years of college. AXA advisors are also on hand to work individually with student-athletes to plan their future financial stability.
Guide to Personal Finances: In each student-athlete planner, a section is devoted to financial planning. Topics include Money Basics, Checking Accounts, and Budget Rules. Each student-athlete is given a planner at the beginning of the school year to help them not only plan their time, but also to read and follow essential money management advice.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
C.P.A.W.S - The Committee to Promote Athlete Welfare and Success
Established in the 1994-95 school year, the Committee to Promote Athlete Welfare and Success (C.P.A.W.S.) has successfully served not only participants in varsity sports, cheerleading, dance team and student training staff at the University of Cincinnati, but has also created a tie with the Cincinnati community.
C.P.A.W.S. was developed by the UC Department of Athletics to help streamline communication between the athletic department administration and the student-athletes, design and implement programs that encourage academic achievement, health promotion, social responsibility and general like skills awareness, actively encourage more student-athlete involvement in campus and community outreach activities and to promote "togetherness" and support for all varsity teams by encouraging attendance at the athletic competitions of fellow student-athletes.
C.P.A.W.S. representatives have dedicated themselves to helping and promoting their fellow student-athletes, the University of Cincinnati and the surrounding community. Their efforts have already begun to enhance a tradition of involvement and awareness by student-athletes at U.C. If you are interesting in working with C.P.A.W.S on any of their projects or would like more information about the organization, please call the C.P.A.W.S. office at (513) 556-3559.
Community Outreach Committee The purpose of the Community Outreach Committee is to actively encourage more student-athlete involvement in campus and community outreach activities. Over the past several years the Community Outreach Committee has been involved with cooking at the Ronald McDonald House, and active involvement with Sports Buddies, part of the Big Brother and Big Sister program. Student Athletes also volunteer at the Drop In Soup Kitchen, along with participating in various other community improvement projects such as Make a Difference Day.
An integral part of the community outreach is the student-athletes' continued presence at local schools. This allows them to effectively communicate with and reach out to youth by sharing their insight and experiences. They stress the importance of education, warn students of the fingers of alcohol and drugs, help promote the students' self-esteem, while describing the typical like of a student athlete at UC.
Membership & Public Relations Committee The formation of this committee was to help increase the awareness of C.P.A.W.S., its projects and goals to the student-athletes in order to increase membership in the future. This committee will inform student-athlete s of the goals of C.P.A.W.S.: encouraging academic achieve, health promotion, social responsibility and general life skills awareness. This committee will also help to organize and annual new student-athlete orientation for freshmen and transfer students. The orientation will include a tour of campus and important athletic offices, food and drink and a gathering of all current student-athletes.
Spirit is another element of this committee. It promotes togetherness and support for all varsity teams by encouraging attendance at the athletic competitions of fellow student-athletes.
2006-07 CPAWS Officers:
President:Myanna Hellsten (volleyball)
VP Membership Development: Mya Pronshinske (golf)
VP Community Outreach: Evan Sanford (baseball)
Secretary:Kirby Doran (tennis)
Co-Treasurers:Noel Olson (volleyball) & Sarah Bires (golf)
SAAC – Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics has instituted the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. All varsity sports have representatives who serve on the board. Representatives meet monthly during the academic year to discuss issues and legislation brought to them by their teammates, the athletic department, BIG EAST and the NCAA. The mission of SAAC has six parts; 1) to assess and advise on the needs for expanded education for student-athletes on various topics such as leadership training, career planning, and NCAA legislation. 2) to encourage teams to support all other teams through attendance at competition s. 3) to explore and encourage development of community outreach programs. 4) to enhance communication between the athletic department administration and the student-athlete population. 5) to share SAAC meeting information with teammates and coaches after each meeting in a timely manner and solicit feedback when appropriate. 6) to abide by all established University policies and regulations governing student organizations and their welfare.
2006-07 SAAC Officers:
President: Mya Pronschinske (golf)
VP Enrichment: Rachael Epps (women's soccer)
VP Programming: Kirby Doran (tennis)
Secretary: Al Dowling (swimming and diving)
Co-Treasurers: Noel Olson (volleyball) & Sarah Bires (golf)
2006-07 SAAC Representatives:
Karen Berling - track
Sarah Bires - golf
Shintara Carpenter - track
Crystal Coolbaugh - rowing
Dominique Davis - track
Cristy Doll - track
Kirby Doran - tennis
Al Dowling - swimming
Rachael Epps - soccer
Gigi Ernst -soccer
Albert Fernandez - golf
Kristen Funk - swimming
Keith Hamilton - track
Josh Harrison - baseball
Myanna Hellsten - volleyball
Lionel Jackson - soccer
Bob Kandell - track
Marcel Kleiner - swimming
Jodie Lush - rowing
Branden Miller - basketball
Kate Norton - soccer
Noel Olson - volleyball
Erica Pass - swimming
Mya Pronchinske - golf
Jake Richards - track
Evan Sanford - baseball
Jill Stephens - basketball
Karen Twehues - basketball
Mike Vessells - soccer
Alex Wenzel - golf
