2011-12 Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball Media Guide

Page 28

Middle Tennessee Women’s Basketball 26

Student-Athlete Enhancement Center

The Student-Athlete Enhancement Center (SAEC) at MTSU houses the academic support system and the Blue Raider Athlete Skills for Success (B.R.A.S.S.) Life Skills Program for all 17 Division I-A sports. The center is housed at Johnny “Red” Floyd Football Stadium on Raider Drive. The facility opened its doors on January 4, 1999, to the delight of student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Todd Wyant is the director of the StudentAthlete Enhancement Center, assuming the post in October 2009. Blue Raider student-athletes can take advantage of the library-like atmosphere as they report for their required study hall hours also under the watchful eyes of assistant director and coordinator of B.R.A.S.S. Wynnifred Counts and assistants Debbie Carroll and Angel Nathan. The center consists of administrative offices, fully equipped individual and group tutoring rooms, a computer center and spacious study carrels equipped with task lighting. Services provided by the center include help with registration and preregistration, help with study skills and updates on NCAA legislation. The center uses an innovative objective

Student-Athlete Enhancement Center Staff

study table program, which includes daily mentoring and constant tutoring. Tutors in various subjects are scheduled in the tutoring rooms throughout all hours of operation, and all tutoring takes place at the center. The SAEC staff is responsible for daily monitoring of the student-athletes’ progress, providing daily reports to coaches and meeting with the entire coaching staff weekly. The mission of the center is to help student-athletes take skills learned on the field and turn them into positive preparation for life after college. The center is also committed to meeting the changing needs of student-athletes. It continues to promote partnerships between the University, the NCAA and the Murfreesboro community to help achieve its goals. In addition to providing the academic support needed to be successful in the classroom, the center is committed to meeting the needs of student-athletes in life skills development through the very popular B.R.A.S.S. program. As B.R.A.S.S. coordinator, Counts is dedicated to helping prepare student-athletes for life after college. Blue Raiders volunteer, when possible, to help teachers and students at elementary and middle schools throughout Rutherford County during the academic year. In 2006, the athletic department began a mentoring program with the city schools in which the student-athletes and coaches help tutor kids. In the spring of each year, Special Olympics at Middle Tennessee uses Blue Raider student-athletes to run each event. Career night and substance and alcohol abuse seminars are yearly, well-attended events. The Student-Athlete Enhancement Center is just one way that Middle Tennessee is helping to prepare student-athletes for life after college.

Todd Wyant Director

Wynnifred Counts Assistant Director/ WBB Advisor

Debbie Carroll

Angel Nathan

Assistant Director

Assistant Director


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