Life Skills/CHAMPS Program
Life Skills
The UTEP Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is operated in harmony with the university's stated mission and is committed to the intellectual, cultural, physical and social development of student-athletes. In particular, the intercollegiate athletics program serves as an educational opportunity for student-athletes and as a focal point to bring the student body, faculty and community together.
Fulfillment of Life Goals
In the process of achieving this mission, UTEP, in conjunction with the NCAA, has developed the Miner S.U.C.C.E.S.S. LIFE SKILLS program. The Miner S.U.C.C.E.S.S. LIFE SKILLS program supports efforts of every student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation, uses athletics as preparation for success in life, meets the changing needs of student-athletes, promotes respect for diversity among student-athletes, enhances interpersonal relationships in the lives of student-athletes, assists student-athletes in building positive self-esteem, enables student-athletes to make meaningful contributions to their communities, promotes ownership by the student-athletes of their academic, athletic, personal and social responsibilities, enhances partnerships between the NCAA, member institutions and their communities for the purpose of education, and encourages the development of leadership skills.
The above goals are achieved through the five components of the Life Skills/CHAMPS program. These include:
Commitment to Academic Excellence
In coordination with the Miner Athlete Academic Center (MAAC), the UTEP athletic department is committed to providing the necessary tools for student-athletes to succeed in the classroom. The MAAC provides academic advising, one-on-one tutoring, regular mentor meetings and structured study hall. Emphasis is placed on the academic success of UTEP student-athletes by the coaches and the administration. Continuous recognition throughout the year of academically successful individual student-athletes and teams is part of the mission of the Miner S.U.C.C.E.S.S. LIFE SKILLS program. Student-athletes are nominated and receive numerous national, conference and university academic awards including, but not limited to: Verizon Academic All-American, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, Athletic Directors' List, Athletic Directors' Team GPA Award, C-USA Scholar Athlete Award, and UTEP Top Ten Senior.
In addition to recognition, the athletic department strives to implement programs and participate in programs designed to recognize the academic success of our student-athletes, as well as thank those individuals and campus entities that assist in the success of our student-athletes. These programs include: Graduation Breakfast, Letter Award Blanket Recognition, Deans' Luncheon, Student-Athlete Faculty Appreciation Night, Football and basketball halftime recognition, Faculty Coach Program, and Commencement and Convocation.
Commitment to Athletic Excellence
The goal is to build philosophical foundations for the development of athletic programs that are broad-based, equitable and dedicated to the well-being of the student-athletes and the team as a whole. The department is continuously striving to provide all the necessary tools for all sports programs to have athletic success. There are several programs designed to assist individual student-athletes and teams in achieving the highest level of success such as:
- UTEP Sports Medicine/Athletic Training Program - An elite educational athletic training program designed to proactively keep UTEP student-athletes healthy and on the field practicing and competing.
- Larry K. Durham Sports Center - The 65,000-square foot building features a 11,420-square foot strength and conditioning center, a student-athlete lounge/computer center, a football locker room, first-class coaches' offices, a separate kinesiology laboratory, a multi-purpose meeting center, a "Hall of Champions" recognizing building and campaign donors, and the display of memorabilia illustrating the tremendous tradition of UTEP athletics' past and current accomplishments.
Commitment to Personal Development
The athletic department and the university seek to provide student-athletes with the coping skills necessary to deal with a variety of life's challenges; to support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes; and to encourage emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills. These goals are addressed through Student-Athlete Orientation, the Student-Athlete Handbook, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Drug/Alcohol and other Educational Programs, and the NCAA Speaker's Grant.
Commitment to Service
An important part of college life is selfless service to the university community and the community at large. This commitment provides student-athletes with an opportunity to begin a lifelong habit of volunteerism. Every UTEP student-athlete has numerous opportunities to participate in community service provided by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and other campus and community organizations. Each year over 500 appearances are made throughout the community by UTEP student-athletes.
Commitment to Career Development
This component is dedicated to helping student-athletes identify career goals, develop interviewing skills, write resumes and coordinate a successful job search. In coordination with the UTEP Career Center, UTEP student-athletes have several opportunities to enhance their marketability for life after college:
- Career Services - The career center provides students with assistance in career planning and advising and employment counseling, in addition to hosting on-campus workshops, career fairs and company interviews.
- Career Workshops - In coordination with the UTEP Career Center, student-athletes are offered resume-writing and interviewing workshops specialized for student-athletes.
For More Information . . .
In order to achieve success in the SUCCESS Life Skills Program, several campus and community organizations and resources are utilized by athletics. This program takes a comprehensive effort from everyone involved with UTEP student-athletes. To find out more information about the program, please contact Lisa Campos at (915) 747-5347.
