BSU offering athletes life skills class

MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State University wants its student athletes to succeed in the classroom as well as in athletics. So, the university is recommending all freshman athletes take a life skills class. The class is intended to teach athletes how to win off of the field.

The class is part of the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program . Nancy Harper has been teaching the course for seven years.

"I laugh with them and tell them they all think they are going to be professional athletes. And then I tell them 'Welcome to Plan B'," said Harper.

Harper's students are walking away with a winning attitude.

"I learned not to procrastinate no more. When it's time to do work, do work. It's made my GPA way better than it was my first semester. So now I'm like up to a 3.2," said Koreen Burch.

"It helps you balance your sports and knowing what's important -- having your priorities straight and learning how to do this first, this second, without having to stress. I think it helps to relieve some of the stress," said Patrice King.

There are no textbooks for the class. In fact, Harper developed her own curriculum for the class. And if a student passes, they get two credit hours, which makes Ball State very different from other division one universities.

"A lot of them just have like a Saturday morning, and they feed the athletes and then they offer them a motivational speaker. No matter what I think it is, I have more of an impact if I do this once a week," said Harper.

Harper's athletes will spend most of their college days perfecting their athletic skills. But Harper wants them to know that what they learn on the field, they can use for the rest of their lives.

"I'm helping them to make the adjustment on what have they done, on what athletics has taught them," said Harper.

The goal is to make sure Ball State athletes are winners in life, not just sports.