S.A.M PROGRAM The Student Athlete Mentorship (S.A.M.) Program was created to be a resource for all student-athletes, aimed at improving academic performance. Each year, mentors are selected from upper-year student-athletes who are empathetic, open-minded, and knowledgeable about campus resources. Each of the mentors has received training in both learning strategies as well as the referral process – training that helps support the needs of their fellow student-athletes. The S.A.M. Program also facilitates a number of free dropin workshops designed to help tackle issues and concerns of students like ‘Bounce Back from 1st Semester’, ‘Build Your Resume’, ‘Scholarships & Bursaries’ and ‘Eat Like an Athlete’.
“It’s amazing being able to talk to my mentor about any personal, academic, or athletic problems I’ve faced. I was always guided and given the best quote from advice” -student-athlete The S.A.M. Program provides a supportive study space monitored by mentors for student-athletes to get their homework done and ask for help. These spaces are set up around campus, and include the library and the athletics centre.
THE AVERAGE STUDENT-ATHLETE GPA HAS INCREASED BY 2.65% SINCE S.A.M BECAME MANDATORY FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENT-ATHLETES
S.A.M AWARD The Student-Athlete Mentor (“SAM”) award recognizes a mentor who develops meaningful relationships with student-athletes, helps student-athletes to develop a positive academic and athletic identity, demonstrates personal and professional integrity and contributes to the development of a unique student-athlete culture of learning.
2019/20 S.A.M Award Recipient Clayton White // Men’s Rowing
Over his three years as a SAM Mentor, Clayton dedicated himself to building relationships with studentathletes. Clayton always had time for his mentees, he knows the value of connecting and could often be seen meeting with his mentees for as long as it took for them to feel prepared. He consistently worked to improve the SAM program, with new ideas and thoughtful analysis of challenges.
STUDENT-ATHLETE GPAs
Before S.A.M
After S.A.M
