Student-Athlete Development
Mission: To enhance and prepare student-athletes for success during their collegiate career as well as life after college athletics, through purposeful programming, strategic partnerships, and practical education.
The ODUPRINT (Student-Athlete Development)
Overview: The "ODUPrint" is a holistic development program that will enhance and prepare student-athletes for success during their collegiate career as well as life after college athletics through purposeful programming, strategic partnerships, and practical education.
Personal + Career Development- Programs will be conducted for the personal and developmental growth of student-athletes.
Click here to learn more about ODU Student-Athlete development.
Athletics Community Engagement Overview
We're a community of Monarch coaches, student athletes and staff members that open our hearts and give of our time to countless events, groups, charities, and campus organizations throughout the academic year.
Engaging with the community is a vital role in Old Dominion University and the Athletic Department strategic plans.Our approach to getting the student athletes involved in community engagement is one of fostering and helping create a lifelong desire to give back. We discuss the impact of what they are doing and who it is making a difference for. Our goal is to create a heart for vocation and service, where the student athlete wants to give of themselves and their time.
Student athletes have a big voice and ownership in the athletics community engagement program, they brainstorm ideas, make proposals, research resources, make contacts, work out logistics and bring their ideas/projects to full fruition.
Years in Review Based on Volunteer Hours
2019-2020 - 2,447 hours
2020-2021 - 1,373 hours
2021-2022 - 3,435 hours
Interested in Volunteering
Please email Alynch@odu.edu if you are interested in volunteering
Pillars:
- Professional Development
- Leadership Development
- Student Development
- Community Outreach
Core Values:
- Diversity
- Accountability
- Growth
- Purpose
- Leadership
- Professionalism
Outcomes from programming:
- Knowledge/Critical Thinking
- Experience (Professional)
- Personal Growth/Self-Awareness
- Building Relationships
- Motivation
Leadership Development
Monarch University- Monarch University will serve as ODU’s leadership academy and will develop, challenge, and support Old Dominion University student-athletes who have potential to become leaders academically, athletically, and in life. We want to provide a holistic, dynamic and transformational experience that will have our student-athletes walking away feeling like they can make an impact on their teams and in life.
The mission of Monarch University is to bring a diverse group of student-athletes together to educate and challenge them to become transformational leaders that will make an impact on their peers, coaches, and community.
We have five Core Values that will be taught and your student-athlete will not only be able to bring to the field but bring value to those around them that include
- Leadership
- Personal Growth/Well Being
- Critical thinking
- Diversity
- Service
SAAC - The mission of the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committees is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image.
Functions of campus SAACs:
- Promote communication between athletics administration and student-athletes.
- Disseminate information.
- Provide feedback and insight into athletics department issues.
- Generate a student-athlete voice within the campus athletics department formulation of policies.
- Build a sense of community within the athletics program involving all athletics teams.
Student Development
Social Media/Image Management- Social Media/Image Management- The Social Media/Image Management workshop is designed to showcase the positive qualities of social media interaction. This program also displays examples and consequences of negative social media usage. Student-Athletes will learn how to use social media to enhance their personal brand and that of the University. Student-Athletes will also learn of the transferable skills they may possess and how those skills will aid them in their professional careers.
Program Objectives for Social Media/Image Management:
- Teach Student-Athletes the powers of social media and branding Aid Student-Athletes in properly forming a post/tweet given real life situations
- Create an awareness of the factors that affect the Student-Athlete’s personal brand
Financial Literacy- The Financial Literacy initiative serves as education for Student-Athletes to learn how to strategically save, spend, and manage money. Our Student-Athletes will learn the basics of saving to the advance stages of dealing with credit and retirement plans throughout their college careers at Old Dominion University.
Program Objectives for Financial Literacy Program:
- Educate Student-Athletes on the importance of managing money early
- Provide continued education on strategic saving and goal setting for finances
- Introduce information on credit scores and reports
Global Monarchs- Global Monarchs was held in collaboration with Old Dominion University's VISA and Immigration Service Advising office. The Student-Athletes took part in a split style workshop. In partnership with the VISA office, students were able to distress and paint a themed Monarch paw print with their native country's flag pattern and colors. In between the paint sessions, students worked with the VISA office on F-1 regulations, passports, and I-20 paperwork to receive travel signatures.
Program Objectives for International Program:
- Create a strong peer support network for international student-athletes
- Provide leadership development from an international lens
- Encourage Student-Athletes to get involved on campus and in the community
- Educate peers on the different cultures in the room
- Promote the International demographic of Student-Athletes to staff, coaches, and other students on campus
Professional Development
Career Combine- This competition style career fair will give over 200 student-athletes the opportunity for professional development and to network with top local companies. The student-athletes will be evaluated on resumes, business attire, and elevator speeches throughout the event.
Program Objectives for Career Fair:
- Provide student-athletes with a variety of employers to engage with
- Increase opportunities for student-athletes to attain internships/jobs
- Promote student-athletes in a professional fashion
- Develop lasting relationships with employers for future student-athlete programming
Resume Workshop- Student-Athletes were educated on the process of constructing resumes using their current sport, transferable skills, and achievements. The Student-Athletes also participated in several activities that challenged their ability to identify mistakes in other resume samples. Programming of this sort is important because it gives the Student-Athletes an early start on what employers look for when evaluating potential job-seekers.
Program Objectives for Resume Rush:
- Provide resources and guidelines for resume structure and verbiage
- Inform Student-Athletes on skills and certifications that employers need in today’s global economy.
- Teach Student-Athletes how to construct a concise resume that highlights transferable skills and achievements.