The Moravian University Faculty Athletic Mentor (FAM) program is an opportunity to foster a relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the rigors of the undergraduate academic expectations at Moravian College.

The program allows academics and athletics to effectively integrate and work together to bolster the mission of Moravian University and support the NCAA DIII Philosophy. The partnership with athletics and academics helps student-athletes understand the importance of academics as part of the team culture within Moravian College Athletics. In addition, the FAM Program provides an academic mentoring point of contact for student-athletes and coaches. 

FAMs are nominated by the sport programs and vetted by the Faculty Athletic Representative and the Associate Athletic Director. Each team has one or two faculty members who understand and appreciate athletics as a meaningful and valuable part of the student-athlete’s college experience.

Specific expectations of the FAM program are determined by the mutual agreement between the faculty member and the head coach and based on program needs.

Possible duties include:

• Attend at least two practices per season; level and type of involvement is entirely at the head coach’s discretion and must be respected
• Attend at least two home contests per season
• Attend one away game if practical
• Serve as a role model and resource as an additional advisor/mentor to the student-athletes you are serving.
• Serve as an academic link or point of contact if there is an academic conflict or problem for a member on that team.  Work collaboratively with the Faculty Athletic Representative on these types of issues.
• Help to foster harmonious connections between the academic, athletic, and social cultures of our campus.
• Serve as an enthusiastic supporter of your specific sport and sports in general at Moravian.
• When possible, attend get-together meetings with other Faculty Athletic Mentors to share experiences and provide mutual support, encouragement, and best practices.
• Meet with prospective student-athletes for that sport
• Attend more than the minimum games and practices specified above (which are honor system expectations anyway).
• Assist with the academic monitoring and corrective action plans for student-athletes academic progress.
• Host or take student-athletes to dinner or lunch
• Travel with teams
• Formal advising for athletes, especially freshmen navigating their new environment
• Instruct and model for students how to interact / communicate with professors in the event they need to handle academic conflicts or requests
• Be highly accessible by student-athletes and coaches (i.e., permit cell phone contact)
• Help with coordinating and participating in community service events
• Provide an office hour specifically for student-athletes

2023-2024 – Faculty Athletic Mentors

For more information regarding the faculty athletic mentor program at Moravian University please contact Moravian College Faculty Athletic Representative, Bob Brill (brillr@moravian.edu) or Assistant Athletic Director, Rebecca May (mayr@moravian.edu).