By Joe Kerlin

Posted on November 2, 2016

New study areas will allow student-athletes to focus on their education without leaving the building.

Cram Session

The academic center is one of the new features the SHAC will provide that the Bison Sports Arena did not. The BSA had a study area, but it was more makeshift than anything. In fact, most colleges do it this way, but not NDSU, with the introduction of the Academic Center that sits on the west side of the building on the second floor looking over Dacotah Field. The academic center provides various studying environments for every kind of learner. If athletes prefer a dark space to study, there’s a room for them that’s dimly lit by several lamps. If they like to stand up or exercise while reading, there’s a kinesthetic room. There’s also a computer cluster if the student-athlete doesn’t have a laptop. ACE tutoring will still take place in the West Dining Center, but NDSU has three of its full-time academic counselors housed in the academic center if any questions come up regarding eligibility, graduation progress or class scheduling.

Sanford Health Athletic Complex Academic Center — A look inside the kinesthetic room. Yes, those are treadmills.

“We’re here with the athletes so it’s easier for them to come see us. They don’t have to trek across campus. That’s an advantage; it’s easier for us to find them. It’s also easier for the coaches to find all of us.” – Kelli Layman, NDSU Associate Director of Athletic Academics

The kinesthetic study space will allow student-athletes to study in a variety of different ways. They can walk and read on the treadmill or keep their core working while sitting on a kinesio ball.
The academic center has six offices for its four full-time staff members and four graduate assistants. There are nine study rooms, including the computer cluster that has 12 computers and a printer.
The academic center is open to the general student population and can hold up to 50 students at a time. The academic center is open 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.
The academic center is a total of 3,500 square feet.