The mission of the Matador Achievement Center (MAC) is to support CSUN's student-athletes in achieving their full academic potential. Our department seeks to assist student-athletes in academic planning in order to maintain NCAA, University and Big West academic eligibility. The office focuses on the promotion of academic excellence, retention, and personal growth that will ultimately lead towards graduation.
The connection to student-athletes takes place primarily through our academic advisement, tutoring, equipment checkout, learning specialist and peer learning assist meetings, Summer Success Program and The Matador Connection life skills programming.
Goal 1: To serve as a primary source of academic and NCAA eligibility information for student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
- Objective 1: Advise students and inform coaches on the requirements needed to comply with NCAA, Big West, and institutional regulations.
- Objective 2: Advise both prospective and matriculated students on the academic requirements needed for graduation.
- Objective 3: Process initial and continuing eligibility documentation for term certifications of eligibility.
- Objective 4: Provide coaches and sport administrators with academic updates on student-athletes.
- Objective 1: Provide tutorial support with the coverage of several courses for student-athletes and referrals to other campus tutorial and academic support programs.
- Objective 2: The Office will determine every semester which student-athletes are most "at-risk" for academic ineligibility and provide special services to assist them to include support of a learning specialist, assistant learning specialist, ESL programming, the Peer Learning Assistant program.
- Objective 3: Consultation with Disability Resources and Educational Services to ensure a student with academic impacting circumstances receives permanent or temporary academic support.
Academic advisement begins when the prospect comes in for a recruiting visit. During this visit, the student-athlete is introduced to his or her assigned academic advisor and MAC support staff. The advisor reviews MAC, campus and athletic services that support academic growth in addition to discussing general education and university requirements.
Advisement of transfer prospects requires copies of transcripts and a degree audit completed in conjunction with Admissions and Records, Compliance and the MAC. Once the prospect is admitted, the advisor will review all requirements (G.E., Title 5 and Major) and assist the student-athlete with the planning of a schedule of classes that balances their academic needs and athletic responsibilities.
Continuing student-athletes meet with their athletic advisors for semester-based advising, academic progress checks, and post-graduation planning. All student-athletes will also have a major specific adviser with whom they are required to meet in conjunction with priority registration. Student-athletes are required to turn in a proposed schedule of classes to their athletic academic advisor after their major advisor has approved course selection for the upcoming term. This process will be repeated each semester until the student graduates or finishes his/her eligibility.
It is the student-athlete's responsibility to make sure that they are clearing campus holds prior to registration each term with the assistant of various members of the MAC and his or her major advisor.