At some point in the future, a prospective student-athlete will tour Storrs on the first step toward becoming a national player of the year and a renowned scholar-athlete.
He or she will meet with the coaches and the players, see the national and BIG EAST championship banners hanging in Gampel Pavilion, and start to feel that UConn is the place to go for a college education.
The Division of Athletics takes pride in developing well-rounded student-athletes who combine success in athletics with academic achievement and service to the community. In the 2010 calendar year, more than 50 percent of UConn's 650 student-athletes had a 3.0 or higher semester grade-point average. Sixteen achieved a perfect 4.0. In the 2010 fall semester, 11 of UConn's 24 varsity squads had a team grade-point average of 3.0 or more. In addition to excelling in athletics and academics, many of these same student-athletes actively give back to the community through programs like "Husky Reach," the Division's outreach program benefiting area youth.
Only a small percentage of the student-athlete population will advance to a career in professional sports. For that reason, it is vital that the Division of Athletics provide facilities and services to fulfill our commitment to student-athlete welfare and development. The overarching goal is to equip these young men and women for success in their chosen professions and for a life of engagement in their communities.
Employers respond positively to job applicants who have athletics on their resumes. They know that participation in athletics fosters valued character traits: goal-setting, teamwork, perseverance, self-motivation, and the commitment to achieve common goals.
The University of Connecticut asks three things of our student-athletes: (1) earn your UConn degree, (2) compete in your chosen sport at the highest level, and (3) be a leader in your profession and in your community after graduation.
By strengthening our UConn basketball programs and investing in their continuing success through the construction of a state-of-the-art center, we will positively impact all of the 650 student-athletes who represent our institution and further promote the University of Connecticut as a source of pride for Husky alumni and fans in our state, across the country and around the world.