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Oct. 15, 2008 PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics is looking to better their program for the futures of their student-athletes. Former Coordinator of Student-Athlete Services Dr. Danita Mendez-Townsend has taken on more responsibilities and become the Assistant Athletic Director of Academics and Student-Athlete Development. A major concern for Townsend was the lack of study areas for athletes within UMES’ William P. Hytche Center, the main athletic building for the Hawks. This semester, she put together the first ever self contained study hall for student-athletes on campus. “My goal for the future is to have Math and English tutors available,” said Townsend. “We are also looking at another building on campus so that we can have offices for our academic advisors.” The room contains several desks and computers and has been in full use since opening this semester. It is available from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. to accommodate all the various practice and class times of the students.
“Danita is very concerned about the welfare of our student-athletes,” said Senior Women Administrator Sharon Brummell. “I’m really really proud with what she’s done working with the APR.” According to NCAA President Myles Brand, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) indicates if “nearly all 6,272 Division I teams are achieving or exceeding the standards for academic performance based on four years of data.” Townsend instituted a study hour program upon her arrival at UMES. The Hawk Academic Excellence Program states that student-athletes are required to complete a set number of monitored study hall hours every week. All the athletes are assigned to a level based on their grade point average. These levels, Fighting, Maroon and Gray Hawk, determine the number of hours required for each student. Last year, Townsend was working primarily with the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Because of its success, the Hawk Academic Excellence Program has now expanded to all of UMES’ intercollegiate sports. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, before receiving her Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York Buffalo School of Law. Townsend spent time teaching English before coming to UMES. She is a certified NCAA Division I Athletic Certification Peer Reviewer and trained by the NCAA for 2007 & 2008 CHAMPS/Life Skills Conference & Continuing Education. Townsend is also the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor.
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