Thesis
Colleges need to implement a balanced approach to sports to promote academic integrity and support the institution’s academic mission.
Annotated Bibliography
Branch III, G. E. “Balance Between Win-At-All-Costs and Sportsmanship Hard to Find.” Diverse: Issues on Higher Education, 9 Apr. 2015, p. 31.
The article provides a personal perspective on the influence that college sports have on young adults. It can be used to support the argument about the importance of the right approach to sports when integrating them into the college’s academic mission. The author claims that in order for colleges to raise students who are able to find the balance between athletics and academics, sports need to be practiced according to the principles of sportsmanship rather than competitiveness.
Vogel, Brenda L., et al. “Student-Athletes and Athlete-Students: The Academic Success, Campus Involvement, and Future Goals of Division I Student-Athletes Who Were University Bound Compared to Those Who Would Not Have Attended a University Had They Not Been an Athlete.” The Sport Journal, vol. 41, no. 2, 2019, Web.
The article compares students who identify themselves primarily as athletes with the students who regard their participation in sports as a component of their university experience. The results of the study can be used to illustrate how different approaches to sports in college influence students’ academic achievements. The paper claims that intercollegiate athletics can both enhance and interfere with the college’s academic mission, depending on the attitude of each particular student and educational institution.
Kelley, Christopher P. “Institutional Reforms and the Recoupling of Academic and Athletic Performance in High-Profile College Sports.” The Sport Journal, vol. 41, no. 2, 2018. Web.
The article explores the influence of high-profile college sports on the athlete students’ academic performance and the institution’s reputation, and the measures implemented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to address the problem. The measures were aimed at recoupling academic practices in athletic programs to meet the institution’s expectations and were proved to be successful. The research conclusions can be used to support the concerns related to the increased focus on sports at colleges and the importance of finding the balance between academic and athletic success.