As part of the 2014 NCAA Innovations in Research and Practice Grants, a University of Memphis research team was awarded a $10,000 grant to study and create a career readiness program for student-athletes.
The research team is made up of Tim Ryan, associate professor of sport and leisure management; Richard Irwin, associate dean of the University College and oversees the Experiential Learning Lab; Kelly Penwell, director of the Experiential Learning Lab; and Robert Baker, director of the Center for Athletic Academic Services.
The purpose of this research is to develop a program that will help student-athletes be better prepared for life after school.
"Through collaborative efforts between the co-researchers from multiple campus departments, we were able to develop a unique project to help our student-athletes and were fortunate to be chosen by the NCAA as part of their Innovations in Research and Practice Grant Program," Robert Baker said.
Most student-athletes do not go on to play sports professionally and need experience for their future careers. With all the required workouts, practices, games, meetings, classes and travel that fill up a student-athletes' schedule, most student-athletes do not have time to gain the experience they need to prepare them for their future.
"I was confident that given the demands placed on student-athletes, little time is available for in-depth experiential learning opportunities such as internships, potentially placing student-athletes at a disadvantage with respect to professional development," Irwin said.
The research team devised a program that student-athletes will use to develop workplace readiness, project-based learning, entrepreneurship training and a workshop with a community partner. Researchers will spend the summer developing the program.
"We are piloting our program to provide unique experiential learning and professional development opportunities to a select group of student-athletes to see if such a program does have an impact," Irwin said.
The program will consist of a combination of class work, online and outside group projects, presentations and internship experiences. It will involve a seven credit hour experience. Currently, 18 student-athletes are signed up for the program.
Out of 137 applicants, only six researchers and research teams across the United States received grants from the NCAA. The six grant recipients are all working on different studies that will benefit student-athletes.
The various research covers a wide range of aspects. One researcher from the University of Michigan received a $50,000 grant to "develop a model program for supporting the mental health of student-athletes."
Two different studies are being conducted at Stanford University involving injured athletes and the image of athletes. A researcher at Springfield College also has received a NCAA grant for studies on the mental heath of student-athletes. The other research is a collaborative work of researchers from Utah State, Purdue University and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies to study parent involvement in student-athletes' collegiate careers.
In January of 2015, all six researchers and research teams will present their studies in Washington, D.C., at the NCAA convention.
