NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program
What is CHAMPS/Life Skills?
CHAMPS/Life Skills is an NCAA program created to support student-athlete development initiatives and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the context of higher education. Shippensburg University became a member of CHAMPS in 1988. CHAMPS stands for Challenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Success. The program is committed to the total development of the student-athlete in each of the following areas:
• Academic Excellence: To support the academic progress of the student-athlete toward intellectual development and graduation.
• Athletic Excellence: To build philosophical foundations for the development of athletics programs that are broad-based, equitable and dedicated to the well-being of the student-athlete.
• Career Development: To encourage the student-athlete to develop and pursue career and life goals.
• Personal Development: To support the development of a well-balanced lifestyle for student-athletes, encouraging emotional well-being, personal growth and decision-making skills.
• Community Service: To engage the student-athlete in service to his/her campus and surrounding communities.
Through the CHAMPS program, Shippensburg University strives to:
• Promote a balanced experience for the student-athlete within the university environment and surrounding community.
• Provide an environment that promotes the development of values clarification, goal setting and responsible decision-making.
• Provide an environment of proactive programming rather than reactive intervention.
SU CHAMPS Programming
Shippensburg University sponsors programs in each of the five CHAMPS/Life Skills areas throughout the fall and spring semesters. Although programming varies each academic year, student-athletes always have access to the following components offered in conjunction with the CHAMPS program:
• Academic
Counseling & Advising
• Academic Orientation
• Awards, Honors and Recognition
• Career Development
• Community Service
• Educational & Life Skills Correspondence
• Laptop Loan Program
• Learning Center
• Learning Strategies Workshops
• Leadership & Scholarship Application
• PACES (Personal, Academic, & Career Exploration Seminar)
• Scheduling Workshops
• Speaker Series
• Structured Study Table
• Tutoring
