Classroom Pass is an Iowa Now project that sent teams of writers, photographers, and videographers to 15 classes on Wednesday, Oct. 22, to showcase the breadth and strength of the University of Iowa's academic offerings for undergraduates as well as its dynamic faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. See what other classes they visited.
Class: First-Year Seminar: Inside Look at College Athletics
Instructor: Liz Tovar, associate athletics director for academic services
First-year seminars are one-credit-hour classes designed to introduce students to the excitement that accompanies scholarly research, intellectual and creative work, and the exploration of new knowledge. The intimate classes (enrollment is capped at 18) are led by senior faculty and administrators, and subjects range from jazz and Egyptology to digital photography and neurodegenerative diseases.
Today at Carver-Hawkeye Arena 16 students are seated around four tables in a spacious, light-soaked room just steps from the entrance to the concourse that encircles the basketball court. They’ve signed up for a first-year seminar that is taking a closer look at college athletics: game-day production, facility management, marketing, finances, legal issues, and more.
After attendance is taken, discussion turns to the day’s lesson: academic support services for student-athletes. Iowa has been a pioneer in providing such support, says guest Fred Mims, a former Hawkeye athlete who now serves as Iowa’s associate athletics director for student-athlete affairs.
Learn more about the university's first-year seminars, or see what's happening in UI Athletics.
“There wasn’t much academic programming for athletes when I was a student, but we are fortunate at the University of Iowa to have had administrative support for changing the image and culture of athletics on campus. Our coaches want to recruit the best athletes, but also the best students."
Receiving these support services—which include tutoring, educational programming, and counseling—is crucial in a time when the demands on student-athletes are enormous, says instructor Liz Tovar. She reviews the numerous NCAA rules and regulations athletes must abide by, as well as the (often more strict) standards set by the University of Iowa.
“Iowa historically graduates a large number of its student-athletes,” Mims adds. “We take great pride in that, but it doesn’t happen by itself.”