The interaction between academics and athletics: An administrative experience

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to explore the interactions between athletics and academics at one institution in the Southeast. Using a phenomenological case study approach, the study explored how members from athletics and academics interact with one another from the lens of athletic and academic administrators that have been directly involved in athletic-academic dynamic. The findings revealed the interactions between athletics and academics varied based on the role of the administrator. Athletic administrators interacted differently with academic administrators based on whether they were a university administrator or a faculty administrator. Findings indicated administrators constructed different meanings in how their units interacted with each other and in the value of their interaction.

KEYWORDS:

• Athletics
• academics
• interaction
• communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Cherese F. Fine is now at Charles H. Houston Center for the Study of the Black Experience in Education, College of Education, Clemson University.

Notes

1 Pseudonym