Student-athletes had been giving their uniqnames and passwords to academic advisers so the advisers could sign the athletes up for classes, according to a University Audit released earlier this month. University officials say they’re putting a stop to the practice, which violates University policies.
But LSA senior Allie Shafner, a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a student-athlete organization that addresses issues that arise within the Big Ten or the Athletic Department, said at the group’s Nov. 6 meeting that advisers told the students that if they need to miss their enrollment appointments, they can give their Wolverine Access passwords to someone they trust, like a friend or adviser.
Shafner, a member of the women’s tennis team, said she was never asked to share her Wolverine Access login or password with her adviser. But she said she understands why students might do so because athletes aren’t given any scheduling priority.
Enrollment appointments are scheduled in blocks. Each student is assigned an arbitrary time within a block based on how many credits he or she has.
Shafner said athletes have limited time throughout the week to take classes because of practice and competition schedules, so it’s important for them to be able to register as soon as possible.
Associate Athletic Director Shari Acho disputed that, saying advisers no longer ask students for their passwords. She said the Provost’s Office is working on an alternative plan for student-athletes.
The University audit report found that advisers in the program have been asking student-athletes for their uniqnames in order to make scheduling changes while the students are traveling for team commitments.
The advisers are part of the Intercollegiate Athletics Academic Support Program, a program housed in the Ross Academic Center that provides counseling and helps athletes plan to accommodate their schedules. Each varsity team has its own academic adviser.
Advisers also work with coaches if students need to miss practices because they are struggling academically.
Sharing passwords is a violation of University policy.
University spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said it’s unclear how long advisers have been asking for student passwords. She said the University stopped asking for passwords in September.
The audit also found fault with the academic goal setting tracked by the support program.
The report said there is no evidence of student-athletes setting academic goals, which is a violation of the NCCA’s rules. The NCAA requires that students provide evidence that they are involved in their classes.
Cunningham said that since September, freshman student-athletes have been required to complete an academic goal-setting sheet that will be kept on file for the duration of their college careers.