Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) is an academic advising, support, and NCAA eligibility resource for URI’s 500+ NCAA Division I student-athletes. Located in the Tootell Aquatics Center and adjacent to the Ryan Center, Mackal Field House, and Keaney Gymnasium, SASS has six full-time staff members who support student-athletes as they balance academic and athletic responsibilities. Through dual reporting lines to the Fannon Institute for Student Success and URI’s Athletic Department, SASS is well-positioned to support student-athlete academic success, eligibility, and graduation.
Our Mission
The mission of Student-Athlete Support Services is to provide a comprehensive support system for URI student-athletes to pursue academic success and personal development while competing at the highest level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Student-Athlete Support Services promotes academic achievement through academic advising, learning specialist support, tutoring, and data-informed practices to cultivate retention and graduation for all student-athletes.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a culture for URI student-athletes that encourages them to pursue the highest level of academic and athletic excellence.
How we support student-athletes
Student-Athlete Academic Support and Advising
SASS coordinates an academic support program that provides direct support from professional learning specialists, student staff, and interns. Our Student Learning Assistant (SLA) Program pairs peer learning assistants with student-athletes to teach time management, organization, and study skills. When appropriate, we connect student-athletes with campus resources such as the Academic Enhancement Center, the Office of Disability, Access, and Inclusion, the Academic Testing Center, and the Psychological Counseling Center.
SASS athletic advisors serve as secondary advisors to URI professional and faculty advisors. Student-athletes can rely on this second layer of academic advising to help them navigate scheduling conflicts, communicate with faculty about missed class time due to team travel, and more.
Career Exploration
SASS collaborates with URI’s Center for Career and Experiential Education in order to bridge the gap between college athletics and the professional workforce. The Student-Athlete Affinity Page demonstrates how to market transferable skills such as performing under pressure, time management, and leadership into professional assets and a standout resume. In partnership with Westerly Community Credit Union, student-athletes work through Money Basics, a series of financial literacy modules to equip them with the critical knowledge and skills they need to make responsible financial decisions.
NCAA Academic Eligibility
Student-athletes must meet specific academic standards in order to practice and compete in NCAA athletics. Student-athletes should be familiar with the following academic eligibility requirements (see chart for more details):
- All student-athletes must be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours at all times in order to practice and compete. A student-athlete becomes immediately ineligible if they drop below a full-time (12 hours) program of study (with the exception of seniors who need less than 12 hours to graduate and who have verification from the College OR graduate students who must be registered for 9 credits to maintain full-time status).
- All student-athletes must pass a minimum number of credit hours toward their degree (“progress hours”) each academic year.
- All student-athletes must complete a certain percentage of their degree requirements each year, beginning with the start of their fifth semester of enrollment (under most circumstances, the beginning of their junior year).
- If a student-athlete plans to change majors, they must meet with their student-athlete academic advisor prior to doing so in order to ensure they will be eligible in the new major.
Credit Hour Requirements | Cumulative GPA Requirements | Major must be declared | Percentage Towards Degree Requirements |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entering 3rd semester of enrollment (2nd year) | 1.8 | No | None | |
| Entering 5th semester of enrollment (3rd year) | 1.9 | Yes | 40% | |
| Entering 7th semester of enrollment (4th year) | 2.0 | Yes | 60% | |
| Entering 9th semester of enrollment (5th year) | 2.0 | Yes | 80% |
Looking for support? Access academic, testing accommodations, wellness, accessibility resources.
Academic Enhancement Center | Academic Testing Center | Psychological Consultation Center | Disability, Access, and Inclusion
Find More Ways We Can Support You:
Through C.A.R.E.S.,our network of student support centers, you’ll find support at every step of your academic journey. The Center for Career & Experiential Education connects students with high-impact personal and professional experiences. The Academic Enhancement Center provides tutoring, writing support, and academic coaching, while the Retention and Academic Success Center offers individualized academic interventions to help students overcome challenges and stay on track. The Exploratory Studies Center empowers students to explore their interests, discover academic and career possibilities, and confidently choose a meaningful academic path. Student-Athlete Support Services provides academic advising, support, and eligibility resources that help student-athletes achieve academic success, balance their responsibilities, and stay on track to graduation.
