In this week’s report, Dave highlights the action items from the recent ODAC board meetings. He also gives his personal reflections on the Integration Institute that was held after the board meetings.  The Integration Institute brought together higher level administrators from ODAC schools to talk about the issue of integrating athletics and academics. Dave highlights the need for coaches to be stronger supporters of academics and for faculty to understand the value of the athletic experience. The view should be both/and rather than either/or, but when a game and a lab conflict, it is real and something that everyone involved needs to work at together. We should want our students to be the best athletes they can be as well as the best students and we need to join hands more often and in more ways to ensure that the student has a valuable educational experience.

Inside Athletics is a weekly podcast hosted by Director of Athletics, Dave King. The podcast offers a synopsis of what is happening in EMU athletics, but also delves deeper into how athletics at EMU shapes lives and enhances college educations by positively impacting an athlete’s understanding of self, others, and God. Sports Information Director James De Boer is a regular guest with EMU coaches and athletes making appearances as well.