Dance students rehearse in the studio
Getty
As reported by ESPN.coma national spotlight will shine on collegiate athletics this weekend as the 2024 football season reaches its conclusion conference championship schedule. In recent years, there has been a significant focus on supporting the needs of student-athletes. A 2024 study in the Journal of Sports Psychology in Action reported that there are more than 520,000 students participating in college sports, and these students experience this high demands and challenges that are unique to other students. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also released a 2024 report indicating the need to prioritize mental health needs of student-athletes.
Unfortunately, some colleges and universities do not recognize the distinction between students who are competitive student-athletes and students who are performing student-athletes. Students who are competitive student-athletes are the focus of the NCAA and represent the official definition of the term student-athletes. However, there are students all over campus who use their athletic skills to act on behalf of colleges and universities. Examples include college students in the dance department, college students who are cheerleaders/spirit squad members, and even some college students who are artists and musicians. Some schools have begun to give students who are competitive student-athletes the same benefits given to students who are student-athletes. A 2024 report on 2adays.com (a website focused on recruiting student-athletes) outlined how Vassar and Ithaca College educate college students who are competitive athletes course credit for practicing their sport. This is consistent with the idea that if some college students receive college credit for dance and theater programs, then offering college credit for competitive athletics should be part of the liberal arts experience and will likely alleviate academic barriers to graduation.
On most campuses, college students who are competitive student-athletes and students who are performing student-athletes have vastly different resources, even though they have similar needs. Specifically, college students who are student-athletes also have high needs for physical performance, mental health functioning, and academic support.
Physical performance
Many schools ensure that competitive student-athletes have the tools to optimize their physical performance. This can range from sports nutrition, strength and conditioning coaches to athletic trainers. In addition, in most cases the university will reimburse the costs of treatment if a student is injured while playing sports. However, this is usually not the case for performing student-athletes. If a student in the dance department is injured during rehearsal, it is not uncommon for that student to pay for treatment costs themselves or use their own health insurance. Furthermore, unlike athletic programs, most arts departments do not employ nutritionists or full-time trainers.
Mental health care
A 2023 report from the NCAA indicates this those mental health issues among competitive student-athletes has decreased since the height of the global pandemic, but was still significant. For example, 44% of female exercise participants reported feeling overwhelmed and 35% reported being mentally exhausted. Additionally, competitive student-athletes’ performance can be hindered by anxiety and personal stressors, which can be especially troubling for them. Thus, it is not uncommon for athletic departments to have sports psychologists, counselors, and/or formal contacts with campus counseling centers. However, performing student-athletes are often viewed the same way as non-student-athletes and such services are usually not designed specifically for them.
Academic support
It is not uncommon for colleges and universities to have specific academic support programs for competitive student-athletes. For example, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) has one academic support program for competitive student-athletes, including study lounges, more than 90 tutors, exam proctoring and even career exploration. However, this program is intended for athletes who participate in a competitive sport. Additionally, it is also common for competitive student-athletes to receive early registration for classes and academic advising to adjust their travel schedules. However, student-athletes with similar travel schedules, such as cheerleaders who are not on a competitive spirit squad team, do not always receive this support.
In 2023, UNC launched a campaign with the title: “Artists are athletes / Athletes are artists.” The goal was to demonstrate the parallels between the school’s prestigious athletic programs and its renowned dance company. The sentiment of this campaign still rings true: students who are competitive athletes and students who are elite athletes have similar needs and will benefit from similar resources.