The Academic Enhancement Program (AEP) primary objective is to assist the student-athlete academically. The AEP is aligned with the University’s core principles of academic excellence, student success and institutional viability. The AEP creates a learning environment that promotes and stimulates the intellectual development of all student-athletes by providing strategic academic direction to improve retention, academic success, GPA, persistent rates of every student-athlete. AEP works to provide personal, professional and career support programs that foster the total development of the student-athlete. AEP serves as a bridge to build a connection between academics, athletics and the campus community. AEP continues to strive for academic excellence and works intently with all student-athletes to achieve a grade point average, they can be proud of. Student-athletes are held to a higher standard of excellence.
Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Success
W. Rene Howard
Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development/SWA
Email: whoward@bowiestate.edu
Office: (301) 860-3586
Faculty support is valuable and will assist us academically in managing academic support for student-athletes and offer proper guidance for campus services and resources. Professors concerned about a student-athletes academic progress should contact me directly.
Faculty Athletic Representative
Dr. Sean Coleman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Education
Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Leadership
Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR)
Bowie State University
Email: scoleman@bowiestate.edu
Office: James E. Proctor Building, Second Floor
Phone: (301) 860-3132
Academic Protocol Student-Athlete Class Absences for Competition (Excuse Letters)
Each Head Coach is responsible for providing the Academic Enhancement Advisor with written verification for each student-athletes who will miss class time due to their representation of the university in intercollegiate athletic competition and other related events. Pursuant to the BSU attendance policy, the missed classes will be considered university approved absences. It is the responsibility of each student-athlete to consult with his or her instructor(s) prior to making an athletic trip, to clarify assignments that will be missed and to confirm deadlines. Travel excuses are not to be used as a justifiable reason for not meeting class responsibilities clearly outlined by the instructor. Student-athletes are to attend class, if they are not required to travel. Student-athletes are not excused from missing class due to practice.
The Bulldogs Book Bank (BBB)
The Academic Enhancement Program (AEP) instituted the Bulldogs Book Bank (BBB) in the fall 2017 semester. Textbooks are housed at the circulation desk in the Thurgood Marshall Library. The “BBB” started as a pilot-program and has been instrumental in demonstrating what successful partnerships can accomplish as we collaborate with other campus entities to bring about academic excellence among student-athletes.
Please adhere to the policies and procedures for textbook use and governing ones’ behavior, while in the Thurgood Marshall Library as it relates to academic protocol.
The textbooks are housed in a separate reserve section, in the Thurgood Marshall Library at the Circulation desk.
The student-athlete must give the Librarian their name as well as present their Bowie Card for identification purposes.
A list of all student-athletes names is on file at the circulation desk.
Student-athletes should know the title of the book.
All student-athletes must register for a Library card number.
All textbooks must be used in the Library.
The allotted time to use the textbook is 2-3 hours.
Student-athletes are free to use the digital scanner.
Student-athletes will need to bring a flash drive or jump drive to utilize the scanner.
At NO time will you be allowed to take the Textbook out of the Library.
Textbooks must be returned to the Circulation desk at the appointed time.
Student-athletes that do not return items on time will incur fees.
Should a student lose and item, a $65 replacement fee will be automatically added to their library account. (Fees will not be waived)
USMAI Catalog for Textbooks
Student-athletes are to submit a request to Ms. W. Rene Howard (Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development) for all textbook orders that are not in the Bulldog Book Bank (BBB). Please review the online resourcelibrary to determine if the textbook is already in the Bulldog Book Bank. The USMAI catalog link below provides access to the Bulldog Books Bank (BBB):
Go to our website https://www.bowiestate.edu/mybsu/
At the top of the page, towards the right click library…that will take you here
Under Find Library Materials, click catalog USMAI
Second to the left you will see advanced search—click it
Look for the word “location” on the left and scroll down to Bulldog Book Bank—click the yellow search button
You can now see all of the books on the Bulldog Book Bank.
The Bowie State University Mentorship Initiative (BSUM)
Athletic participation is meaningful and valuable, and meets the essential needs in the health and development of the whole person; mind, body and spirit. The Bowie State University Mentorship (BSUM) is comprised of adult mentors and role models who willingly connect to the student-athletes to provide support through counsel. BSUM is dedicated and equipped to building a harmonious connection between academics, athletics and social cultures as a means of ensuring academic success. The BSUM program will work to foster student success through retention and graduation initiatives. BSUM works to support the student-athletes’ personal growth and academic success.Off-field mentorship will aid in the transition to life after athletics. BSUM will provide increased academic support to identified student-athletes to improve their overall GPA, improve retention and increase graduation rates.
The Fall 2017 Semester marked the inaugural kickoff of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll with the sole purpose of recognizing and honoring those student-athletes who achieve a term grade point average of 3.2 or higher. To be eligible for the AD’s Honor Roll, a BSU student-athletes must have earned a term GPA of 3.20 or higher.
Chi Alpha SigmaThe Spring 2022 Semester marked the inaugural chapter of ChiAlpha Sigma, the first and only national honor society of scholar-athletes in collegiate athletics.BSU's Chi Alpha Sigma chapter will give the university an opportunity to honor those four-year collegiate student-athletes that have excelled in both the classroom and in athletic competition. To be eligible to join the honor society, the student-athlete must participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fifth full-time semester, display strong moral character, and earn a 3.4 or higher cumulative grade point average.
Established in 1996, Chi Alpha Sigma continues to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime.
Additional Academic Resources & FormsStudent-Athlete Academic Monitoring Form (PDF)
This form is to be used by all sport teams for the sole purpose of monitoring the academic progress of all student-athletes. Please print out the form and distribute to your student-athletes at your discretion.
NCAA Division II Degree Completion Award Program
The NCAA established the Division II Degree Completion Award Program in 2001 to provide deserving student-athletes financial assistance for them to complete their first baccalaureate degree. Candidates will be students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility. Please complete application byFeb. 15, 2024at 5 p.m. EST.
Foundations for Academic Success Handbook
It’s Academic’s Life Skills 101 for the Student-Athlete (POWER POINT PRESENTATION)
