Services

LRSA offers multiple services to student-athletes in an effort to fulfill our mission. The majority of our services focus on the academic development of student-athletes, as discussed below. For information on community service, career services, and student-development options, please explore the highlighted links.

Academic Counseling-LRSA, through an academic counselor and other staff, provideS support to varsity student-athletes by:

Monitoring academic progress; supporting faculty in the classroom; helping student-athletes articulate their needs; being an effective referral agent; involving students with counseling services, career services, academic advising by faculty, deans and other campus support services; promoting relationsips between faculty and student-athletes; recognizing and rewarding scholarship and maintaining an interdisciplinary team approach to coordinate services to student-athletes.

Tutorial Services

The student-athlete tutorial program is available to all Boston College varsity student-athletes. The program is designed to assist student-athletes with their course work, while at the same time helping students learn new skills for independent learning. Student-athletes are "matched" with tutors based on need, tutor expertise and availability. Our student-athlete tutorial program is certified under the College Reading and Learning Association. We provide additional training opportunities for all our tutors, as well as collaborate with other academic offices on campus. We also provide limited drop-in tutorial hours throughout the academic year.

The Murphy Family Study and Computer Center

For use by Boston College varsity student-athletes, the Murphy Family Study and Computer Center is located on the fourth floor of the Yawkey Athletic Center. The center has an extensive quiet study area and a separate facility holding 15 computers (13 IBM, 2 IMACs) and 2 laser printers. The computers offer free internet and email access, along with free printing. The center serves as the primary tutorial area for LRSA, and offers students an easily accessible area, close to athletic facilities, in which to study.

Study Hall is opened to all student-athletes. It provides a managed study environment to help ease the transition to the increased academic workload of college. Study hall balances the need for structure with the aim of increasing students' responsibility for their own work. Freshmen student-athletes are responsible for prearranged hours of monitored study a week, to take place in the Murphy Family Study Center. Time spent with a tutor or instructional assisstant  can be counted towards the student-athlete's total hours for that week. The academic counselor works closely with student-athletes and coaches to monitor academic progress throughout the program.

Student-Athletes with Learning Disabilities

Boston College provides services and accommodations for students with learning disabilities according to their individual needs. In order to be eligible for accommodations, students must submit current and comprehensive documentation of their disability to the Connors Family Learning Center. The Learning Specialist at LRSA coordinates services for all student-athletes with disabilities. Students with learning disabilities are eligible for a variety of learning supports and accommodations based on the specific nature of their learning needs, and the impact of their disabilities on performance and testing.

The Developmental Instruction Program is designed to accommodate the academic needs of student-athletes who are underprepared to compete academically at Boston College. Under the direction of the Associate Director, this program serves approximately thirty of the highest need and most academically challenged student-athletes. Student-athletes can request placement or are selected for this program on the basis of specific performance factors that place them at risk for failure. The goal of this program is to provide intensive skill instruction through developmental tutoring. The Learning Specialist, in conjunction with specially trained Instructional Assistants, develops an Instructional Plan for each student-athlete in the program based on the student's strengths, needs, and learning style. Each student-athlete works with an Instructional Assistant several times a week, and the student-athlete's progress is monitored closely by the LRSA staff.