The Perception of Support Services for African American Male Student-Athletes at Division I University

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore perceptions of the influences of student support services, and other factors that may contribute to African American male football players’ ultimate success in academics, at a public Division I university. This study will explore the efficiency of academic support services on the academic improvement of African-American male student-athletes at Division I universities. The goal of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions of the influences of student support services and other factors that contributed to African American male football players’ ultimate success in academics at a public Division I university. The procedures for the qualitative case study included all of the following steps. The researcher used archival data and contextual information from Ozarka University to determine the effectiveness of the support services for student-athletes. Furthermore, the researcher interviewed football student-athletes, tutors, the associate athletic director, and academic advisors individually via video-conference (Zoom). Additionally, the researcher collected physical artifacts such as pamphlets, handbooks, and articles about the academic support services for athletes at Ozarka University. Lastly, the researcher analyzed the number of student-athletes that graduated in the previous semester and Fall semester.