Friday Feature: It's Final Exams
Final exams are a big focus for San Jose State students and faculty. FInd out how the Student-Athlete Success Services unit fits into the picture.
The pressures of succeeding athletically and in the classroom challenge all student-athletes. Whether it’s balancing time for practice with studying, or performing well on exams or during games, the demands can be stressful. As final exams begin, we’ll take a look at how the staff who call the Scott Gadway Academic Center home helps student-athletes strive for success in their collegiate athletics careers and as students in the classroom.
The Scott Gadway Academic Center, located on South Campus in the Simpkins Stadium Center, was a gift to the athletes of SJSU from alums Stan and Marilyn Gadway, to honor their late son, Scott. Scott Gadway was a 1991 SJSU graduate who died in a skydiving accident in 1996. Dedicated in 2003, the Gadway Center offers student-athletes a place to study, advising services and tutoring seven days a week.
“The biggest service we provide is advising. We have great advisors here who do an excellent job of keeping everybody on track towards graduation. We also provide learning specialists who work with students and their academics on a day-to-day basis,” said Liz Jarnigan, director of Student-Athlete Success Services. “The advisors can make a plan and path for student-athletes to follow while the learning assistants and specialists are kind of like super-tutors who help them each day.”
Jarnigan believes the staff of the Gadway Center provides services in tune with SJSU’s mission for academic and athletic success by its student-athletes. “I believe we owe it to our student-athletes to make sure that they take advantage of everything we have to offer. And, not just use them as players on the field, but give them something back for what they give to us,” said Jarnigan. “It’s important that we give them an opportunity to succeed in their athletic endeavors and obtain a college degree as well.”
For Andrea Arroyo-Flores of the women’s tennis team, the Gadway Center is essential especially at this time of the year. “Certainly the tutoring that they have here is a big help for all of us,” said the behavioral science and sociology double-major. “It’s great to come in here and finish up that last-minute paper or last-minute power point presentation, especially now during finals when it’s crunch time.”
In addition to tutoring services offered, the Gadway Center puts an emphasis on creating a student-centered environment which encourages learning in their mission statement. “You know you can come here and will be surrounded by other athletes who need to study,” said Arroyo-Flores, a first-semester community college transfer. “Gadway is much better than places that can be distracting such as dorm rooms or the public library.”
As student-athletes and the rest of SJSU prepare for final exams, the Gadway Center activities will increase as will the appreciation by student-athletes who use the center to prepare. Arroyo-Flores capped things off by saying; “As a student-athlete, getting your work done comes first, and having the opportunity to do that at the Gadway center, always makes my job easier on the court.”
2008-09 Friday Features
September 19 - David Richmond, Football
September 26 - Yonus Davis, Football
October 3 - Hiroki Akiyama, Men's Soccer
October 10 - Homecoming Spartan Style
October 17- Jessica Ingram, Women's Soccer
October 24 - Coye Francies, Football
October 31 - David Haefele, Men's Cross Country
November 7 - Travis Jones, Football
November 14 - Men's Soccer Seniors
November 21 - Football Seniors
December 5 - Lauren Mar, Swimming
December 12 - Student-Athlete Success Services