Elite Athlete Friendly
“Supporting Australia ’s elite athletes to achieve academic excellence”
Macquarie University aims to be the most Elite Athlete Friendly University Network in Australia.
Purpose
The Elite Athlete Friendly University (EAFU) Network has been established to identify and promote universities who have responded to the specific needs of elite student athletes by developing new, or promoting existing policies and practices which assist elite student athletes to undertake sporting opportunities whilst pursuing and achieving academic excellence.
Background
The value of combining both sporting and academic aspirations is well recognised by Macquarie University across the academic and sporting fraternities. The challenge has now been placed on both sectors to identify and implement the necessary support systems to facilitate this occurring.
The flexibility required by the student-athlete is available within existing Macquarie University frameworks and will be driven by U@MQ Active's High Performance program.
U@MQ Active will work with university stakeholders to create within Macquarie University a supportive environment for their elite athlete that is conducive to the achievement of sporting and academic excellence.
Macquarie University will adopt the following guiding principles within their policies and/or systems to support Australia ’s elite athletes to achieve academic excellence.
Guiding Principles
Macquarie University Commitment
Macquarie University Sport and Recreation will provide the following support:
- Advice and guidance to student-athletes on academic planning
- Support in negotiating necessary flexibility to meet academic requirements
Advocacy for the student-athlete within the university environment - Support in negotiating and/or implementing student cross institutional study or credit transfer arrangements
- Provision of advice and support to SIS/SAS/ Player Association Athlete Career & Education Adviser or related personnel
Flexible Study Options
Macquarie Universities will use their best endeavours to tailor (or develop) policy documentation to incorporate the following student athlete needs:
1. Assessment related needs:
- Ability to negotiate assessment deadlines based on sporting related travel commitments
- Ability to sit exams externally under exam conditions, within the athlete’s environment (e.g. whilst travelling, in their hotel etc)
- The minimum attendance at lectures, tutorials or practicals waived where student-athlete unavailable due to sporting commitments
2. Enrolment related needs:
Ability to:
- Tailor academic study load to integrate with sporting commitments, available for first year students as well.
- Negotiate lecture, tutorial and practical timetables to accommodate sporting commitments
- Extend minimum time to complete course due to periods of decreased study load
- Take several leaves of absence where required due to increased sporting commitments (e.g. Olympic Games year)
- Complete cross institutional study options with interstate universities, and flexibility within this policy provided for student athletes (e.g. first year student’s eligible, increase number of subjects able to be completed by cross institutional study
3. Provision of summer study alternatives and/or ability to swap between distance education mode and on campus mode, depending on sporting commitments
4. Recognition of credit achieved at interstate universities
5. Course related needs:
Access to distance education materials, and/or class notes for missed lectures, tutorials or practicals
Course Entry
Macquarie University will endeavour to identify and establish appropriate self-registration processes for student-athletes to identify themselves. This to be highlighted within Tertiary Admissions documentation for Macquarie University.
