Athletics and Academics: Striking a Balance

Dr. Beverley J. Pitts
This article was written for the September 2007 issue of  The Columbian, a publication of the Indianapolis Columbia Club.

For many of us in higher education, the anticipation of a new academic year each autumn mingles with excitement over a new football season and all the heraldry that accompanies it — the tailgate parties, the halftime shows, the good-natured rivalry. Athletics and academics often blend this way, and when the mix is right each enhances the other.

Balance is the key, of course, and this year you may be hearing that message more than ever. NCAA Division II schools, including the University of Indianapolis, have embarked on a campaign to move out of the shadow of Division I by raising public awareness about the attributes that make them a unique experience.

Division II schools frequently go uncelebrated nationally but seldom in their own backyards, where they are engaged in their local communities, and where the high-level athletic competition they offer is readily accessible to neighborhood fans. Many serve as a surrogate town square for social gatherings and civic meetings. A Division II school offers athletic scholarships, which provide college access for many students who could not afford to attend otherwise. These institutions further distinguish themselves by developing not the athlete but the student-athlete, turning out well-rounded scholars committed to service.

Many people are unaware that Division II schools offer a full menu of opportunities to participate in athletics, and at a very competitive level. At UIndy, for example — the only Division II school in Central Indiana — we offer 21 varsity sports, from volleyball and golf to football and basketball, and compete against schools such as Grand Valley State, Wayne State, Northern Kentucky and Drury.

When there's balance, athletics can provide release from stress, improve emotional well-being and help students learn time management, which actually enhances academic achievement. At UIndy, for example, the average GPA of our 480 student-athletes is 3.1. Further, graduation rates at Division II schools are consistently 10 to 15 percentage points higher for student-athletes than for the total student body.

Beyond their dedication to developing the whole student, Division II schools feel a strong obligation to their communities. This is not an idle feeling of goodwill, but a stated commitment to real engagement that will be receiving extra emphasis in the future, as Division II schools become more deliberate about creating institutional initiatives in response to local needs.

UIndy has been active in community initiatives for some time now, most visibly in Fountain Square, where the university's willingness to partner facilitated the development of the Wheeler Arts building and Fountain Square Center. Recently, we helped form the Gateway Business Alliance and have dedicated resources and personnel to its mission of South Side redevelopment. Our faculty, staff and students are involved in these initiatives, and we will continue to find ways to engage them further.

UIndy typifies Division II, and by sharing their stories member schools can help the public appreciate the special philosophy and mission that truly sets them apart. Division II finally may get the recognition it so richly deserves.