At OTE Academics we believe in the power of a personalized, self-directed approach to education. Our athletes are empowered with the agency and opportunity to create their path to mastery of grade level content at their own pace, with the support of our "X-factor", our professional Student-Athlete Success Team, and in partnership with Subject Virtual online educational platform.
Our dynamic team of on-site staff that we call Student-Athlete Success Coaches have a history of mentorship in high school and higher education, strong content knowledge, and have been trained to ensure that academic instruction is engaging, interactive, and filled with debate about complex issues that will ensure a strong transfer of knowledge.
Each athlete will be assigned a Success Coach to guide them through their academic progress, ensuring a 5:1 student-instructor ratio for in person support. Success Coaches will be assigned to specific OTE teams, allowing athletes to build team camaraderie even as they navigate their academic experience.
The OTE Academy experience consists of 6 key components.
- Academic Intervention & Support Plans
- During their time with us at OTE, athletes engage in 3.5-4 hours a day of academic instruction. Our online curriculum partner provides athletes with a comprehensive learning experience consisting of NCAA approved courses. This partnership supports our athletes with live, in class learning experiences, flexible pacing, AI-learning tools, and access to teachers around the clock. The combination of our curriculum partner and our on-site Student-Athlete Success Coaches allows for early academic intervention, ensuring a proactive approach to academic problem-solving.
- Athletes are placed in the appropriate courses (based on previous coursework and high school transcripts) to ensure that they are on track to graduate with a Cognia certified high school diploma at the end of their senior year, and have the opportunity to select electives based on their interests and passion. Alongside our comprehensive learning curriculum, English language development sessions are available for our international students who are working towards proficiency of the English language.
- Time Management & Study Skills Coaching
- Flexible pacing plans allow athletes to master time management while controlling their academic journey. Athletes will meet with Success Coaches and determine at what point in the semester they want to finish each of their courses. Success Coaches will then create a schedule for athletes to stay on track with completing their courses by their desired date.
- Success Coaches also work with athletes to provide them with study skills and best practices for test-taking. This includes subject courses and standardized testing preparation that will take place throughout the semester.
- Mentorship, Goal Setting & Accountability
- Athletes begin each semester by meeting individually with their assigned Success Coach and establishing their academic goals for the coming months. Not only does this allow the academics team to hold athletes accountable for their goals, but it also allows Success Coaches to understand their athletes on a deeper level, leading to a more impactful mentoring relationship.
- We also begin each Monday with a full team opening huddle led by our Success Coaches. These huddles focus on weekly goal setting, developing connections between athletes and coaches, and providing a space for athletes to ground themselves before the week of work ahead.
- Communication (Coaches) & Collaboration
- At OTE, we believe in a team-oriented, holistic approach to student-athlete development. With this, OTE Basketball Coaches meet regularly with our academic staff to discuss athletes' academic and athletic progress, ensuring that no party is in the dark when it comes to an athlete's wellbeing.
- Just like they are held accountable on the court, athletes will be held accountable for their academic participation. Lateness and missed academic obligations will result in reclaiming academic time through our time recovery program, which may require athletes to temporarily forego basketball training in order to catch up on their academic obligations.
- College & Career Readiness Preparation
- OTE was created to train and empower the next generation of professional athletes. With these goals in mind, our Experiential Learning Curriculum has been developed to ensure that our athletes leave OTE with the tools and skills needed to lead meaningful and sustained collegiate and professional careers and have the ability to create a pathway forward after their time as collegiate and/or professional athletes. Our Experiential Learning Curriculum will provide OTE athletes with the opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining valuable life experience.
- OTE athletes will participate in weekly experiential learning sessions facilitated by Success Coaches, OTE staff, and industry leading professionals and athletes in the following content areas:
- Financial Literacy
- Leadership & Identity Formation
- Social Media/Media Training
- Professional/Career Development
- Wellness
- Advocacy in Sports
- Travel & Competition Support on the Road
- Student-Athlete Success Coaches will travel with athletes to ensure an uninterrupted academic experience, facilitating study hall and academic support sessions even when on the road.