C.A.T.S. Program Translates Athletic Success Into Academic Excellence

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The University of Arizona is home to more than 500 of the nation's best student-athletes. In order to successfully compete at the Division I level, these Wildcats must possess both natural talent and an innate sense of determination.

It is the mission of the C.A.T.S. Academics program to help these athletes take what makes them successful in their sport of choice and translate it into academic achievement. This optional program provides structured tutoring sessions, as well as drop-in opportunities for UA student-athletes to receive academic support, time-management guidance and mentorship for the transition into college life.

"At this level, these student-athletes have invested an incredible amount of time into their studies and their sport," said John Mosbach, associate athletics director and director of C.A.T.S. Academics. "A significant portion of what we try to do is provide the proper infrastructure to help them make the right time-management decisions."

That infrastructure has generated record-setting results for UA student-athletes. The Wildcats posted a cumulative 3.028 GPA in the spring 2018 semester – the best single-semester academic performance in UA history. More than half of the UA's student-athletes – 287 – finished the spring with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and 59 earned 4.0 GPAs – both spring-semester records.

In 2011, C.A.T.S. Academics earned certification from the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals in recognition of meeting or exceeding national standards in its support for student-athletes.

All of the UA's student-athlete support services are housed in the Ginny L. Clements Academic Center, which helps provide a well-rounded experience for those in need of academic support.

The center, a 15,000-square-foot, two-story building within walking distance of most campus athletics facilities, allows for more one-on-one interactions between support staff and student-athletes and provides space for work and study. The center has tutoring rooms, study areas, a computer lab and other amenities.

"We seek to offer robust, comprehensive support to any student-athlete who walks through our doors," Mosbach said. "We have a tailored approach for our students – not just throwing them into a study hall for eight hours per week. Someone might stop in for a résumé writing workshop and decide to drop in for a tutoring session."

Mosbach estimates that more than 350 student-athletes are involved in C.A.T.S. at any given time, with freshmen and international students frequenting the center on a near-daily basis.

Over the last few years, C.A.T.S. Academics focused primarily on growth – both in terms of square footage and in the number of support staff. What started as 300-plus tutorial sessions per week has grown to more than 500, with increased support from specialists in subjects ranging from math to English. Professional development staff assist soon-to-graduate student-athletes with mock job interviews and employment workshops. C.A.T.S. Academics is also planning to increase internship and study-abroad opportunities for UA student-athletes.

A focus for this year is ramping up online support for those student-athletes whose sports require frequent travel.

"We're looking to capture our services in an engaging way for those student-athletes who spend a lot of time on the road. This year, we're adding more opportunities for remote support and online tutorials. We hope to spend the next year or two fully exploring the online space in hopes of offering the same top-notch support for our Wildcats, wherever they may be during the semester," Mosbach said.

With classes now underway, Mosbach is hopeful for another record-setting semester – both on the field and in the classroom.

"In the last three years, each fall semester has been better than the last in terms of our student-athletes' cumulative GPA," Mosbach said. "Let's see if we can keep that streak alive."