Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus FGCU on December 12, 2025 at 11 a.m.
11 a.m.
Women's Basketball
vs. FGCU
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Hoot Program
The HOOT Program
Helping Owls Optimize Talent
2012-2013 (Updated 7/16/12)
Helping Owls Optimize Talent
2012-2013 (Updated 7/16/12)
The HOOT Program: Helping Owls Optimize Talent
The FAU HOOT Program is an academic system that is designed to help student-athletes study efficiently and effectively. It is an objective-based approach that replaces the standard study hall system. An individual academic plan (MAP: My Academic Plan) is created by the academic athletic counselors for each student-athlete that is identified as needing or requiring study hall and additional services. The focus is on successfully completing tasks and effective studying accomplished in times assigned.
Who has a MAP (My Academic Plan)?
The following student-athletes will have a MAP, an academic plan specifically designed for each student. In addition, a counselor may require any student-athlete to have an academic plan at the counselor's discretion if there are any academic concerns.
Freshmen:
All freshmen for the first semester (8 hours assigned).
A freshman must get a 3.00 in the first semester and have earned a minimum of 12 PTD credits to get out of having an academic plan. The weekly meetings with counselor will continue.
Those freshmen student-athletes who earn below a 3.0 or less than 12 credits will have an academic plan.
Transfers:
All transfers for the first semester (8 hours assigned).
A transfer must get a 2.50 in the fall and have earned a minimum of 12 PTD credits to get out of having an academic plan. Weekly meetings with counselor will continue.
Upperclassmen (sophomores to graduates):
All upperclassmen with less than a 2.00 (8 hours assigned).
All upperclassmen with less than a 2.20 (4 hours assigned).
All upperclassmen on probation (8 hours assigned).
All upperclassmen on probation and have a cumulative GPA of a 2.50 or higher (4 hours assigned).
All upperclassmen who were previously suspended with less than a 2.50 (8 hours assigned)
All upperclassmen who were previously suspended with less than a 2.25 (4 hours assigned)
My MAP: My Academic Plan
BASIC ACADEMIC PLAN:
- Weekly meeting: All of the student-athletes identified must have a weekly meeting with their athletic academic counselor. This is part of the weekly academic plan requirements.
- Study Groups & Supplemental Instruction: Any sessions offered for any of the student-athlete's classes will be mandatory and part of the student's weekly plan.
- Tutoring: A maximum of 2 hours will be assigned (maximum of 1 hour a week per subject, maximum 2 subjects)
- Tutor signature verification form: Student-athlete will submit this at the end of the week
- Study Hall hours: Counselors will specify hours as mandatory: tutoring, study groups, academic mentors, supplemental instruction, and mandatory study times.
- Assigned: A counselor may assign a specific time and day that study hours must be completed
- Flex: All remaining hours not specifically assigned are flex ("flexible" meaning the student has the flexibility to choose when to fulfill the time during open lab) unless otherwise designated by the counselor or team.
- Task completion: Counselor may assign mandatory tasks that must be completed by a deadline
BASIC PLUS ACADEMIC PLAN:
Student-athletes who are identified as having major academic concerns or student-athletes at risk of becoming ineligible and not making timely progress toward graduation will have academic plans as stated above with the additional requirements. These students are identified as follows:
- Major eligibility concerns (includes any student-athlete with eligibility letters or one who needs 9 credits or more in a semester)
- On probation and have the possibility of getting suspended or dismissed
- All student-athletes admitted with special circumstances
- Any based on Athletic Academic Counselors professional judgment
The Academic Plan requirements are as follows:
All hours are prescribed as designated by the counselor. Counselors will specify hours as mandatory: tutoring, study groups, academic mentors, and supplemental instruction. The following are the guidelines for determining the academic plan:
- Approximately 8 hours a week but the emphasis is getting tasks completed rather than putting in time
- 4 to 6 hours must be with a tutor, study group, or supplemental instruction
- Minimum 2 hours must be with an academic mentor
- 2 hours (7-9pm) must be on the evening that the team counselor is on duty, if assigned
- Weekly meeting: All of the student-athletes identified must have a weekly meeting with their athletic academic counselor. This is part of the academic plan requirements.
- Task completion: Counselor may assign mandatory tasks that must be completed by a deadline
- Weekly Academic Progress sheet: student-athlete and counselor will generate a to-do list at the weekly meetings. Student-athlete will have the sheet with them daily and he or she must return it to the counselor at the next weekly meeting indicating progress.
- Study Groups & Supplemental Instruction: Any sessions offered for any of the student-athlete's classes will be mandatory and part of the student's weekly plan.
- Tutoring: Individual or small group tutoring will be assigned (4 to 6 hours must be with a tutor, study group, or supplemental instruction)
- Academic Mentor: Minimum 2 hours must be with an academic mentor
- Study Hall hours:
- 2 hours (7-9pm) must be on the evening that the team counselor is on duty - if assigned
- Additional study hall with the individual's academic mentor may be assigned
- Tutor signature verification form: The student-athlete will submit at the end of the study hall week.
- Counselor and student-athlete will establish appropriate daily contact of communication (verbal, electronic, or face-to-face).
- Counselor must see/review assignments before they are due.
Definition of Completion of Weekly MAP (My Academic Plan)
If any one of the components is not completed by the end of the week, the student-athlete will be considered as not having completed his or her requirements. Coaches will be advised each week of the student-athletes that do not complete requirements. Students who have a history of missing Weekly Academic Plan requirements may not be granted the benefits of funding for summer classes or degree completion (5th year aid). Furthermore, their scholarship and participation may be reconsidered.
Reading
Reading is an important element for success in the classroom. Reading may be assigned as tasks to be completed under the academic plans and/or students may be required to log time reading during study hall.
Code of Conduct: Computer Lab and Study Hall Rules
All study hall monitors and staff members are responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining an environment that is conducive to productive academic work. If a student-athlete is not following the rules and acting inappropriately, the student-athlete will be given a warning. If the student-athlete is approached again, the student-athlete will be clocked out of study hall and will forfeit the study hall hours. If the student-athlete disagrees with the situation, he or she must bring it to the attention of the Director of the SACAE the next day and it is not to be discussed with the monitor or staff member. Repeated misconduct can result in the loss of access to the use of SACAE services and facilities.
Additional rules are as follows:
- Must come prepared with materials and ready to study
- No Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, or other social networking sites
- No cell phones are to be used at any time
- No food or drinks of any kind allowed in the study hall or computer lab
- No tobacco products of any kind
- No ice bags (you should have them removed before entering study hall)
- No workout gear (you must have clean dry clothes and shoes on)
- No talking or disruptive behavior
- No rude or disrespectful behavior toward any staff member or other student
Protocol for Academic Plan Tracking
1. Study hall will begin the second week of classes and end the Friday before exams start. The study hall week begins on Sunday and ends Friday at 3:00pm.
2. In order to receive credit for study hall hours, students must log-in and out by checking in with the study hall monitor by submitting their student ID. Prior to leaving the room students must log out of study hall via checking with the study hall monitor. If students fail to log out or are logged in but not in the room, the time will be deleted.
3. The head coach will be advised of missed Weekly Academic Plan requirements weekly by email from Athletic Academic Counselor.
4. Coaches may impose more stringent team penalties for missed Weekly Academic Plan requirements so long as they are in writing and distributed to their student-athletes at the beginning of the academic year. A copy must be on file with the Director of the Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence and the Director of Athletics.
5. Attendance at every class and laboratory session is expected for all courses in which you are enrolled. It cannot be emphasized enough that there is a direct correlation between classroom attendance and academic success. Besides the obvious fact that you need to be in class to attain relevant information, many classes at FAU have a portion of the final grade designated for attendance and class participation. Furthermore, if you happen to have difficulties with a specific class, your professor is much more likely to work with you if you have demonstrated an interest in the class by attending regularly. For student-athletes, good class attendance is more critical because of the days that might be missed due to competition. It is your responsibility to attend and be on time. Academic programming and tutoring provide additional support to student-athletes and do not replace class attendance.