INSIDER: FedEx Academic Support Center Gears for Opening

By Ben Garrett

OleMissSports.com Insider

From studying in hallways and daycare desks in Kinard Hall to holding tutoring sessions in random locations across campus, Ole Miss student-athletes have not enjoyed the greatest of accommodations for meeting their rigorous academic requirements. That problem will now be resolved.
 
With the start of the 2007-08 school year, Rebel athletes will have the benefit of a state-of-the-art facility in the FedEx Academic Support Center, which has been in the works since 2005. Through the donation of a $2.5 million gift over five years to the university by FedEx, the Center should provide a strong academic foundation to enable students to reach their full potential.

“American public universities are the best in the world largely because of the generosity of American corporations,” said Chancellor Robert Khayat in an April 14, 2005 press conference. “FedEx sets the standard for philanthropy by which others are measured. In this case, Ole Miss student-athletes are the primary beneficiaries, but all our students will benefit and, as a result, our entire state benefits.”
 
Some of the amenities that will be offered include modern computer facilities, study halls, tutoring labs and designated areas for students with learning disabilities. The building will include offices, conference rooms, a multi-media classroom and a 150-seat high-tech auditorium.

Ole Miss’ Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support is set to begin its move into the new facility in May. The department’s numerous academic counselors and learning specialists will work solely in the FedEx Center in offering the athletes one stop to address all of their study needs.

“With the tutors, counselors and advisors that the Academic Support Center will provide, we will be able to assist student-athletes with scheduling, academic requirements and their eligibility issues,” said Karen Schiferl, Associate Athletics Director for Academic Support. “Along with the multi-media classroom, there will be various additions that will help students, including tutoring rooms, a study area and a computer lab. The amount of computers currently used by student-athletes is around 24, but through the Center, there will be at least 90 computers available for use.”

Currently, athletes study in limited space, but will now enjoy 22,500 square feet of room, tripling the area presently used in Kinard Hall. Parts of the Center will be accessible to all students, with certain space being allocated for classrooms.

“We currently have 700 study sessions for our student-athletes per week with limited space, but through this building, we will have more space which will allow more sessions to take place,” Schiferl said.

The FedEx Center is conveniently located next to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and other athletics facilities, which will permit athletes to maximize their time between classes and their athletics obligations.

“Kinard Hall is a fairly extensive distance from all the athletic facilities, which is an inconvenience to our student-athletes,” said Schiferl. “The FedEx Center will be close to these facilities, which will allow student-athletes to come and go as they please and help maximize their time.”

The Center will certainly have its advantages in terms of academic assistance, but it will also play a major role in attracting potential Rebels.

“In recruiting, we make a commitment to young men and women and their parents. We provide a positive environment of support to help them achieve their maximum potential in their academic and athletic pursuits,” said Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone. “The FedEx Academic Support Center enables Ole Miss to go beyond that promise. It’s one thing to study in a dilapidated, poorly lit and noisy environment. It’s another thing to study in an environment that is conducive to studying. The Center’s front-line technology and classrooms provide our student-athletes one of the best learning environments in the country.”

Schiferl added that with the increase in academic standards by the NCAA, the FedEx Center will make Ole Miss more appealing to prospective students.

“This Center will definitely be a recruiting tool for all of our athletics organizations,” Schiferl said. “Academic eligibility is not simply based on one’s grade-point average. Other factors go into one’s academic standing, for example, percentage of degree requirements. Students want to come where they can get the best facilities and reliable assistance. This center will help all of our athletics programs significantly.”

Through the efforts of the university and FedEx, the Academic Support Center will greatly improve the collegiate experience at Ole Miss in both athletics and academics. Through assistance in multiple academic need areas, the Center will open the door for learning and further encourage success for all student-athletes. 

“The FedEx Corporation has gone far beyond the money they’ve donated through assistance in technology and communication needs, and have helped construct a facility that will be very beneficial for our student-athletes,” Boone said. “Everything we do is designed to make Ole Miss the best it can be. The FedEx Center is going to allow students to be successful in any academic avenue they would like to pursue.”

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related Videos