Loyola University Chicago

UNIV 150: Student-Athlete Senior Seminar

Fall 2016 Syllabus
Monday 6-7pm
Sullivan Center Room 260
Instructor Information
Patrick McHale
Norville Center, Room 200
pmchale@luc.edu

Loyola University Chicago Athletics

630-779-0398 (office)
Office Hours Available by Appointment

Course Description
This course is a survey of significant life skills, which will support student-athletes after
graduation. The course will utilize student experiences and traits gained through their
sport and their coursework to find ways to apply them in their lives after graduation. The
course will also utilize the network of the athletic department to provide advice and
support to student athletes for them to assess their own passions and goals, especially for
making major life decisions.
Course Learning Outcomes

Identify the factors influencing successful careers and responsible lives for
postgraduate students.
Be able to personally navigate through the aspects of postgraduate life, from
career experiences to living experiences.
Translate past learning and skills developed from undergraduate from
undergraduate academics and athletics into positive and meaningful life practices.
Identify themselves as responsible citizens in society and dependable individuals
in the professional world.
Understand others in terms of valuing different skill sets, abilities, attitudes, and
beliefs and how they are factors in how society and communities function.
Value the various life goals of the individuals in the course and reflect on personal
experiences and goals to succeed professionally.
Create a learning plan to continuously evaluate and act on personal life goals,
behaviors and attitudes, and skills.

Required Readings
While there is no required textbook(s) for the course, there will be supplementary
readings provided online and in class assigned according to the topic each week.

Assignments/Grading
Attendance
Introductory Self-Assessment
Mid-Semester Reflection
Mentor Connection Assignment
Career Advisor Connect
Community Service Poster
Final Reflection
Total

10 points
10 points
15 points
30 points
15 points
10 points
10 points
100 points

Attendance 10 points
This class meets once a week, which makes attendance in class every week a crucial
component of the course. In order to receive the total amount of points, students are
asked to abide by the following:
Attend every class session unless of an emergency or an excused absence
Arrive to class on time and stay until class is dismissed
Be engaged with the teacher, fellow students, and the material by asking
questions, adding personal input, and contributing to discussion
Introductory Self-Assessment 10 points
In 3-5 pages, provide a brief summary of your life as a student-athlete at Loyola. Frame
your paper around your most influential experiences you have had as an undergraduate
student. Examples could include a particular teaching moment from your coach, a course
you enjoy or did not enjoy, and so on. Why are these experiences meaningful to you?
Structure your paper in a way you can easily articulate verbally to actively participate in a
class discussion on this topic.
Mid-Semester Reflection 15 points (Due Monday, October 17th)
Prepare a creative 5 minute presentation regarding your progress in the class to this point
in the semester. Students are expected to cover their progress, personal input, and
reflection in this presentation based on the topics from prior classes, including
Networking
Searching for jobs
Resumes and cover letters
Interviews
Students will be graded on content of presentation, evidence of progression in the
previously mentioned topics, and overall creativity and quality of the presentation.

Mentor Connection Assignment 25 points (Due Monday, October 31st)

Students will be asked to connect with a respected professional in their career field of
their choice. Sources can be found through various networks within and outside of the
university including: Loyolas student-athlete alumni network, Loyolas career services
department, academic departments, professional associations, and many more. Please
contact the professor if there are any issues of securing a contact for this assignment.
The mentor must have at least on of the following qualifications:
Be a former college student-athlete
Be current professional in a career field at least similar to the students career
interests
Once the mentor is chosen, students are asked to conduct and interview no longer than 30
minutes about their experiences as a former student and as a professional in the field.
Some possible topics to cover in the interview include asking how his or her college
experience impacted their current lifestyle, what advice he or she would give to a
graduating student-athlete.
Career Advisor Connect 15 points (Due November 7th)
Utilizing your universitys Career Development Office can be very beneficial to receive
insight on your career field, help you present you best self to employers, and help you
translate your past experiences and future goals into reality. Students are asked to meet
with a career advisor at Loyola. There is no dictated content of the meeting, the time
should be used for the student to ask his or her most pressing questions as well as
receiving advice from the career development professional. Students are asked to submit
a 2-3 page reflection of this meeting and how they will apply what they learned in their
future lives.
Community Service Poster 10 points (Due Monday, November 21st)
For this assignment, students are asked to find a community service organization of their
choice and research the organizations background, purpose, and other related
information and illustrate this information creatively on a poster to display to the class.
On the day the assignment is due, students will share their posters. Please provide contact
information of the organization for any interested students. Students will be graded on
visual creativity and content of the posters.

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is an expression of interpersonal justice, responsibility and care,
applicable to Loyola University faculty, students, and staff, which demands that the
pursuit of knowledge in the university community be carried out with sincerity and
integrity.
Accessibility
Students who have disabilities which they believe entitle them to accommodations under
the Americans with Disabilities Act should register with the Services for Students with
Disabilities (SSWD) office. To request accommodations, students must schedule an
appointment with an SSWD coordinator. Students should contact SSWD at least four
weeks before their first semester or term at Loyola. Returning students should schedule
an appointment within the first two weeks of the semester or term.
EthicsLine Reporting Hotline
Loyola University Chicago has implemented EthicsLine Reporting Hotline, through a
third party internet & telephone hotline provider, to provide you with an automated and
anonymous way to report activities that may involve misconduct or violations of Loyola
University policy. You may file an anonymous report by dialing 855-603-6988.
(within the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico)
The University is committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct
as an integral part of its mission of expanding knowledge in the service of humanity
through learning, justice and faith. To achieve this goal, the University relies on each
community member's ethical behavior, honesty, integrity and good judgment. Each
community member should demonstrate respect for the rights of others.
Technology
If you bring a cell phone to class, please turn it off or set to silent mode. Should you need
to respond to a call during class, please leave the room as quietly as possible. Texting,
instant messaging, and/or Internet browsing are not permitted during class as this is
distracting and highly disrespectful to fellow students and the instructor.
Course Outline

Monday, August 29th Introduction/Goal Setting

Monday, September 5th (No Class, Labor Day)
Monday, September 12th Networking
o
Introductory Self-Assessment Due
Monday, September 19th Searching for Jobs
Monday, September 26th Resumes and Cover Letters
Monday, October 3rd - Interviews

Monday, October 10th (No Class, Mid-Semester Break)

Monday, October 17th Reflection Presentations
o Mid-Semester Reflection Due
Monday, October 24th Budgeting
Monday, October 31st Apartment Hunting
o Mentor Connection Assignment Due
Monday, November 7th Etiquette Dinner
o Career Advisor Connect Due
Monday, November 14th Dressing for Success
Monday, November 21st Community Service
o Community Service Poster Due
Monday, November 28th Staying Connected
Monday, December 5th Final Reflection
o Final Reflection Due
Finals Week (No Class)