Respecting the game: Foreign tours as academic engagement opportunities for intercollegiate student-athletes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Intercollegiate student-athletes have few opportunities to participate in high-impact academic engagement opportunities, such as education abroad experiences. In this paper we explore the possibilities of intercollegiate foreign tours as a meaningful academic engagement opportunity for student-athletes. We examine learning outcomes of 31 student-athletes after participating in a one-week foreign tour experience playing baseball and participating in associated educational and cultural activities in Cuba. Data come from one case study that employs three qualitative strands: a pre-trip survey, in-country daily reflections, and a post-trip survey. We use an inductive analytical approach, informed by learning and development theory to examine players’ cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral development as a result of the foreign tour. Findings indicate that foreign tours that include an educational component may bridge athletics and the academic mission of higher education and can provide a meaningful opportunity for high-impact engagement that student-athletes perceive to be missing from their education.