JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville State University Athletics is excited to announce a new campus-wide collaboration designed to enhance academic and personal support for Gamecock student-athletes.

In Spring 2024, the leadership teams from Athletics and the Student Success Center joined forces to create a new model for student-athlete academic support. This initiative leverages on-campus resources, aligns with the NCAA's Holistic Student-Athlete Model, and prepared Jax State for its transition to the FBS classification.

The NCAA Holistic Student-Athlete Model mandates that all Division I institutions provide enhanced support for both current and former student-athletes. This includes assistance in degree completion, medical coverage, expanded mental health services, and additional programming in academic support, career counseling, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), sexual violence prevention, nutrition, financial literacy, strength and conditioning and name, image and likeness.

To meet these evolving needs, the Student Athlete Academic Success Team (SAAST) was established in Summer 2024.The SAAST includes key leaders:

• Dr. Tim King, Vice Provost for Student Success
• Dr. Janet Bavonese, Associate Vice Provost for Academic, Athletic, & Career Advising
• Misty Ray, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Services

The team is complemented by academic success staff, engagement staff, eligibility specialists, and athletic compliance officers. SAAST meets weekly to ensure collaboration and communication, providing holistic academic advising, success coaching, learning interventions, and student-athlete development.
The SAAST model employs a shared governance approach, focusing on:

1. Defining student-athlete academic risk,
2. Collaborating consistently among SAAST members, and
3. Ensuring a clear communication loop with student-athlete stakeholders across campus.

A key innovation of the model is the role of the Athletic Academic Counselor, who combines the duties of an academic advisor, success coach, and athletic advisor into a single position, optimizing resources and student-athletes' time. Leading the Student-Athlete Academic Success Team for the Student Success Center is Rachel Haas, Director of Student Athlete Academic Success.  The Athletic Academic Counselors include Nathan Roberts and Rachel Merritt (Football), Mallorie Kandziorski (Volleyball, Baseball, Tennis), Ashley Oliver (Bowling, Softball, Soccer, Rifle, Golf) and Rolonzia Stitts (Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field).

Additionally, Dr. Yolanda McCants, the Lead Learning Specialist, provides targeted academic interventions for student-athletes.
Under the Athletics Department, Michelle Green has taken on the new role of Student-Athlete Engagement Specialist, overseeing programs that foster career growth, leadership, and personal development. Her responsibilities include managing initiatives related to personal enhancement, community service, mentoring, leadership development, and career readiness.

As the transfer portal continues to grow in importance, Jax State has appointed Tracy Broom, a longtime athletic academic advisor and Senior Women Administrator (SWA), to the newly created role of Assistant Athletic Director for Eligibility. Broom will handle all transfer-related matters and oversee the department's eligibility and academic awards process, along with DEI initiatives.

Misty Ray has been promoted and assumed the role of Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Services, leading the student-athlete development staff. Tee Neely has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance, with support from Ethan Rich.