麻豆传媒

This Academic Excellence week, 麻豆传媒 student-athletes are grateful for a special space on campus where they can connect, study and receive customized support services: The Bob Heiny Student-Athlete Academic Success Center.

鈥淚 get at least eight hours鈥� worth of study hall a week and it鈥檚 made a huge difference. It鈥檚 quiet here most of the time and you can actually get stuff done. You don鈥檛 have the distraction,鈥� says First-Year Track athlete Emily Wilson.

The Academic Success Center, located on the second floor of Butler-Hancock, provides student-athletes maximum opportunity for academic achievement through extensive and customized support services.

The Academic Success Center was originally created during renovations to Butler-Hancock in 2009, but thanks to a gift from the Bob and Bonnie Phelps CAP Trust the space was refreshed and dedicated as the Bob Heiny Student Athlete Academic Success Center in the fall of 2018. 

"You know before, I feel like it was a lot more closed off in sections. There were round tables where students would just interact exclusively with their own teams. I feel like it鈥檚 much more open now and there鈥檚 a lot more interaction with other people. I think even when you鈥檙e studying it鈥檚 good to interact with other teams, because I see my teammates probably 40 hours a week," says football player Justice Littrell. 

Bob Heiny excelled as a University of Northern Colorado faculty member and administrator for 48 years. A generous donor and avid fan of the Bears, Heiny served with 麻豆传媒 Athletics and the NCAA for 28 years in a number of capacities, including Faculty Athletic Representative and Interim Athletic Director.

The impact of Heiny鈥檚 unwavering passion for academic excellence can still be felt across campus and now will never be forgotten, thanks to the Bob and Bonnie Phelps Family CAP Trust.

New computers, furnishings and visual enhancements were made to the space along with a renewed commitment to providing financial education and academic support to student-athletes. 

"I have questions about grad school and what I need to do, so I've been using it a lot more. I go up there to ask advisors Jimmy Henderson and James Zapp questions all the time. I probably go in there at least once a week. I think it鈥檚 given me an extra bonus," Littrell says. "You know, most students have to make an appointment with their academic advisors, whereas I can just go up to the Academic Success Center and see if Jimmy or James are in the office, pop in and ask them a question. I definitely feel like it鈥檚 given me an advantage."

Since the academic success center was refreshed, more than 50 student-athletes have earned academic recognition from the Big Sky Conference, 38 of whom had a GPA of 3.5 or better.

"It鈥檚 more conducive for a learning environment. I appreciate all they鈥檝e done to enable us to not only be better students, but be better people. It鈥檚 more conducive to what we need as student athletes and I appreciate that," Littrell says.