Charlotte 49ers Life Skills   

Student-Athlete Participation Requirements

Every student-athlete must earn six (6) life skills credits each year.  Credits may be earned by attending approved events/programs that are listed on the Life Skills Calendar of Events on the web.  Credit may also be earned with community service, team specific programming, and other programs/projects approved by the Life Skills Coordinator.

All student-athletes will be able to view the Life Skills Calendar of Events online at the Athletic Academic Center (AAC) website.  It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to refer to the Life Skills Calendar of Events and print off the Attendance Verification Form for the event he/she wants to attend.  The student-athlete must take the form to the event and get a UNC Charlotte staff member’s signature (and phone number) at the event verifying his/her attendance. 

The only exception to this rule is for any athletic sponsored event on the Life Skills Calendar of Events (denoted in green) No Attendance Verification Forms will be required for these events as an Athletic Department staff member will be present to take attendance. 

Credit will not be given to student-athletes for life skills events without going through this procedure.  All forms must be turned in to the Life Skills Coordinator at the AAC as soon as possible after the event.  Student-athletes may be able to receive credit for an event that is not posted on the calendar, he/she just needs to request approval in advance through the Life Skills Coordinator.

Your first community service credit will double count as a Life Skills credit. This includes all sports related clinics. In addition, any subsequent community service credits will be added to your individual total after you reach your required 6 life skills credits. This is to encourage more community service and reward those that do more.  Please direct all questions regarding community service to the Life Skills Coordinator.

NOTE:  It is the student-athlete's responsibility to make sure he/she has received credit for an event/program.  Community service, approved outside projects, etc. must be communicated to the Life Skills Coordinator in order to receive credit.

Consequences for not completing six credits per year:

The Life Skills Coalition instituted consequences in the Spring of 2003 for those student-athletes that do not earn the required 6 Life Skills credits during the academic year. The rule states that if a student-athlete does not complete the required 6 Life Skills credits during the academic year, they will be held by the Athletic Director from their next scheduled regular season competition. The deadline for earning these credits will be the last day of class each Spring semester. 

Consequences for missing a mandatory event without prior approval:

The Life Skills Coalition adopted this rule in August 2002: Without an approved excused absence, a student-athlete who does not attend a mandatory Life Skills event must write a three page research paper on the topic addressed in the mandatory event. At least two of sources are required in addition to an interview with a local professional in the specified field. The student-athlete must obtain a signature and phone number from the professional verifying the interview. The completed paper, properly cited sources, and appropriate signature must be submitted to the Life Skills Coordinator within 14 days of the mandatory event. Failure to complete this assignment will result in a suspension from the student-athlete’s next regular season competition.