What is a key aspect of the Integrated View?

What is a key aspect of the Integrated View?

• A. Athletics prioritized over academics
• B. Athletics should be fully independent of the academic mission
• C. Athletics should be fully aligned with the academic mission, and student-athletes are students first
• D. Athletics should be primarily for entertainment value

Answer: (C)

Athletics should be fully aligned with the academic mission, and student-athletes are students first. In an integrated view, the athletic program exists to support learning and personal development, not to overshadow education with competition or spectacle. This means scheduling practices around class times, providing strong academic support, and evaluating success by degrees completed and progress in coursework, as well as athletic achievement. When athletics and academics work together, student-athletes gain discipline, time management, and teamwork while the university fulfills its educational purpose. Choosing athletics ahead of academics, keeping sports completely independent of the academic mission, or treating athletics primarily as entertainment would undermine the student-centered, educational focus that the integrated view emphasizes.

Athletics should be fully aligned with the academic mission, and student-athletes are students first. In an integrated view, the athletic program exists to support learning and personal development, not to overshadow education with competition or spectacle. This means scheduling practices around class times, providing strong academic support, and evaluating success by degrees completed and progress in coursework, as well as athletic achievement. When athletics and academics work together, student-athletes gain discipline, time management, and teamwork while the university fulfills its educational purpose.

Choosing athletics ahead of academics, keeping sports completely independent of the academic mission, or treating athletics primarily as entertainment would undermine the student-centered, educational focus that the integrated view emphasizes.