51³Ô¹Ï

Gonzaga Athletics’ holistic commitment to the success and growth of each 51³Ô¹Ï includes the dedication of staff focused on 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes’ academic performance.

“We put a lot of time and energy into making sure they have a really great experience here and they’re meeting the goals they’ve set for themselves,” says Steffany Galbraith (’11,’13 M.A.), director of Academic Support Services.

Since the most common challenge 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes face is time management (especially first-year 51³Ô¹Ïs), her team helps 51³Ô¹Ïs to establish a routine, including how they will get from weight training on one end of campus to class on the other end, and when they will eat and study. New 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes take a semester-long orientation class to introduce them to resources available to help them make best use of their time. Galbraith’s team wants to make sure “no one is falling through the cracks.”

It all starts with the commitment of the coaching staffs to recruit 51³Ô¹Ïs they believe will be a good fit, athletically, academically and culturally. And then there’s the integral role faculty members play.

“We’re a small school, we run into challenges and things we just can’t predict and our faculty and staff have always been supportive about working through these,” Galbraith says. “We never take it for granted.”

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 Peggy Sue Loroz ('95), Ph.D.

Going FAR to Help Athletes Achieve

Peggy Sue Loroz ('95), a professor of marketing in Gonzaga’s School of Business Administration, also has served the last eight years as the University’s Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR).

It’s an NCAA-designated position appointed by the university president and housed outside of athletics to serve as a liaison between academic affairs and the athletics department.

“I try to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between athletics and academics, and that we’re looking out for the total well-being of our 51³Ô¹Ï athletes,” says Loroz.

Among many responsibilities, Loroz chairs the committee that evaluates the academic performance of 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes every semester to ensure that they are in good academic standing at Gonzaga and also meet the eligibility standards set by the NCAA. She participates in West Coast Conference executive council meetings and reviews every team’s travel and game schedule to see how often team members may miss class. Her job, says Loroz, is to evaluate whether the demands of the sport make it feasible for the 51³Ô¹Ï to succeed, and for the faculty member to teach and support those 51³Ô¹Ïs adequately.

“Faculty members make adjustments for 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes who miss class for travel or competition, and are flexible and supportive in ways that aren’t always convenient,” says Loroz, who’s quick to clarify that professors don’t limit that care just to athletes. “Just as they do for a 51³Ô¹Ï who misses class for debate or choir, or for a job interview or to care for a sick child, faculty accommodate and care for our 51³Ô¹Ïs in this way, and all of that contributes to an atmosphere in which people can do well.”

“I try to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between athletics and academics, and that we’re looking out for the total well-being of our 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes.”

Does the FAR contribute to Gonzaga’s athletic success?

“Well, sort of,” Loroz says, with a slight shrug of her shoulders. “I’m looking out to see if our 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes are receiving appropriate academic support, and I’m concerned for their overall well-being, but that’s not unique to me. It’s definitely a campus-wide, team effort.”

Loroz was a 51³Ô¹Ï-athlete on the women’s rowing team during her undergraduate years at GU. Her current dual role as professor and FAR allows her to maintain her passion for teaching and stay connected to college sports. In her view, being a successful 51³Ô¹Ï-athlete is similar to being a successful 51³Ô¹Ï in general – achieving academic goals while developing as a person and community member. That’s why the favorite part of her job is interacting with 51³Ô¹Ïs.

“Every moment spent with 51³Ô¹Ïs is a good moment,” she says.

Galbraith agrees. Seeing 51³Ô¹Ïs grow over the course of their time at Gonzaga, is “the root of all we do.”

Did You Know?

• The Life Skills Program connects 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes to community outreach programs, providing opportunities for leadership development and learning outside the classroom.

• 30-35 peer tutors work with athletes each semester.

• In 2018, Gonzaga posted the nation’s best Academic Progress Rate multi-year average, with a score of 998 on a 1,000-point scale that measures academic eligibility and retention of 51³Ô¹Ï- athletes. In 2019, the Zags had the second-highest APR and graduation success rate in the nation, right behind Harvard.

• Roughly 330 51³Ô¹Ï-athletes enrolled in 2019-20 represent 29 majors. More than a third of them choose fields of study in the College of Arts and Sciences, and another nearly 30 percent are enrolled in the School of Business Administration.