NSU student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom

By Bella Giaquinto •

As a student-athlete, managing the rigors of on-field performance and in-class success is no small feat.

During the 2023-2024 winter semester, NSU student-athletes showed their prowess in both situations, achieving a 3.38 departmental grade point average, bringing the overall departmental GPA above 3.00.

“The academic performance is always top notch, and to be able to balance their athletic expectation as well as their academic expectations and excel in both parts of their life, speaks volumes to their character and their determination and their discipline for both,” Deanna Rivero, NSU athletics manager of athletic academic services, said.

Within the past year, 82% of NSU student-athletes recorded grade point averages higher than 3.00, with a departmental record of 44 achieving a perfect 4.00 GPA. 95 student-athletes were also named to the Director’s List (GPAs higher than 3.80) and 211 were recognized with Scholar Athlete distinctions (GPA above 3.25).

Rivero, who joined NSU athletics in 2018, witnessed and contributed to the growth of the department over the last six years.

“We are very thankful that our campus partnerships have grown tremendously,” Rivero said. “Over the past few years, we’ve streamlined the department to where now the student athletes go to the departments they need help in and we work with them.”

Rachel Fineberg, associate athletic director for student-athlete support services, senior woman administrator and Title IX coordinator, also joined NSU athletics in 2018. Fineberg overseas areas related to student-athlete academic success, student-athlete development, NCAA compliance, diversity, equity and inclusion and works closely with many campus partners to allow for a seamless student-athlete experience.

“I just finished my sixth year at NSU in my current position overseeing the student- athlete support services, and I’ve been fortunate to have an outstanding member of my team, Deanna Rivero, and together, we’ve been able to look at the structures that we have in place and the support that we have in place,” Fineberg said. Athletic academic services offer a number of resources for student-athletes, such as academic monitoring, one-on-one meetings at least once a semester, academic success programs, as well as identifying certain students, whether incoming or returning, who need a little bit more one-on-one attention.

“Anybody in our academic success program meets with us, whether that be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly,” Rivero said. “We go over their grades, go over their to-do list for the week, do a lot of referrals to Campus Resource, and will refer them to the Tutoring [and Testing] Center.”

Fineberg highlights the support her staff provides to the athletes and why the athletes strive toward a high academic performance.

“We have a support staff here, though, that is monitoring their performance,” Fineberg said. “They have a little bit of an incentive to do the best that they can, because they want to be eligible to compete, obviously, but they also want their coach to be satisfied with their performance.”

Athletic academic services also focus on the overall development of the student-athletes.

“We’ve really emphasized being able to recognize that talent and develop it holistically, which would include the other pieces of the puzzle that we coordinate with career development, personal development, leadership development, and providing them opportunities to get involved in the community as a whole with community service,” Fineberg said.

Rivero expands on how the department exposes the student-athletes to environments that would develop them professionally.

“In the fall, we had an etiquette dinner where we taught them how to have etiquette while you’re at a professional dinner with somebody, whether that be an interview or potential employer, and then in the spring, we did a networking night,” said Rivero. “We try our best to kind of, you know, develop them holistically, academically, athletically, professionally.”

They also ensure to recognize each student-athlete for their athletic success.

“We were able to induct 34 student-athletes into our honor society this year, which again, I think is a testament to their hard work and our desire to celebrate and recognize their success,” Fineberg said.

Going into the Fall 2024 semester, athletic academic services will continue to support their student athletes by guaranteeing they are always supported through the department, recognized for their achievements, and encourage student-athletes to always ask for help when needed.

“My biggest piece of advice that I give at our youth student-athlete orientation, and again with my UNIV classes is, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that’s help in the classroom, help in transitioning to college, or help in finding a job to pay your tuition bill that may be a stressor for you,” Fineberg said. “We have the people here that want to give you that support, and we just need to know what it is that you’re struggling with.”