As the 2011-12 academic year kicked off on August 17, so did the new Meredith Athletics Student-Athlete Affairs program. The purpose of Student-Athlete Affairs is to provide life skills in the areas of academics, athletics, personal development, career development and service while also promoting the well-being and development of student-athletes. 

 

Assistant Athletics Director Greg Jarvis has been charged with leading the program and has worked with Athletics Director Jackie Myers to make the launch a reality. An essential part of this effort is to bring to the front the four core values of the athletic department: Integrity, Discipline, Respect and Responsibility. These core values will be developed through activities for the whole department and College throughout the year in addition to the intentional integration by the Meredith coaches on and off of the field.

 

During the 2011-12 academic year, integrity will be the focus and the other three values will follow so that by the time four years have passed each student athlete will have experienced an emphasis on each one.

 

“I believe integrity is the most important of our four core values. If you can focus on integrity, then the other three values will fall into line,” said Jarvis. “We want all of our student-athletes to come out of Meredith with the skills needed to lead satisfying lives and become contributing members of society.”  

 

Myers was the keynote speaker at the kickoff event and spoke specifically on the Meredith Athletics core values and integrity. 

 

“We really wanted to begin an intentional development of those core values since these are the kind of values we want you to have before you leave Meredith. We expect our coaches to practice these same values as they develop these core values within you,” said Myers. 

 

As a part of the launch of the program, Meredith has also developed a Student-Athlete Code of Conduct that embraces these four values and stresses the importance of them. Beginning this year, all student-athletes will read and sign the code indicating their commitment to abide by it, while practicing the core values.

 

“Honestly, our goal is that you will follow the code and use it the remainder of your life. I want to challenge you to not put yourself in a place where you can make a bad decision. If you do make a mistake, admit it, learn from it and commit to not making the same mistake again,” said Myers.

 

Myers credited author John Maxwell throughout the night and he is the basis of her beliefs on integrity. She issued the following charge of her student-athletes as she closed, “I want to challenge you to be the best person you can be.  Practice integrity and lead with integrity, always striving to have your actions match your words.”

 

Meredith continued their Student-Athlete programming on August 23 with a presentation by Kevin Long from UDiligence called “Protecting Brand YOU on Facebook.” The event was open to the entire campus community. Additional events will be announced through the season in conjunction with other campus offices.

In this Issue:

Sonia Nazario Shares Enrique's Journey
Website Redevelopment Process Begins
Sustainable September Puts Focus on Thinking Green
Second Annual Meredith Fund Family Festival Held
Meredith Launches Student-Athlete Affairs

Tippett Competes in Ballroom Dancing Championship
Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Upcoming Events
News Briefs

 

Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.