At Rutgers University, the men’s basketball staff places as much emphasis on each player’s academic success as it does on his athletic achievement. The staff takes an active role in players’ academic progress. Each coach keeps a daily account of their assigned players’ class and tutor schedule, when assignments are due and when tests are approaching, thus offering continued focus and support.
As part of the staff’s commitment to academics, the Scarlet Knights have a full-time academic advisor who oversees all areas of the team’s academic life. Assistant Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes Randi Larson works closely with the student-athletes, coaches and instructors to facilitate and enhance academic progress.
Larson’s role with the basketball team includes help with scheduling, study skills and time management plus providing tutors and services necessary for top academic performance. Through effective and constant communication with student-athletes, coaches, instructors, college deans and other university administrators, Larson is able to anticipate the needs of the student-athletes and provide support and structure for the fulfillment of each player’s academic goals.
In order to meet the needs of the Scarlet Knights during the season, Larson travels to away games, facilitating study hall while on the road. She also works closely with the Leadership Development and Strategic Partnerships program, which strives to provide growth in four areas: personal enhancement, community engagement, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and career development.
The men’s basketball program entered the Fall 2020 semester with a 3.122 cumulative grade point average. In the NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report, the team achieved a score of 82. The team’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) score was 969, which ranked seventh among Big Ten programs.
Larson arrived at Rutgers in the fall of 2001 and begins her 17th season with the Scarlet Knight men’s basketball program. She brought her experiences from Wagner College where she served as an Assistant Athletic Director, the Associate Director of Academic Advisement, and the Assistant Softball Coach throughout her three years in that athletic department. While there, she also earned her Master of Business Administration degree in May of 2000.
Larson graduated from Penn State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. She was a four-year varsity letterwinner as an outfielder for the Lady Lion softball team, earning Big-Ten Academic recognition throughout her career. An active student-athlete, she was a Student-Athlete Advisory Board member, Student-Athlete Peer Network member, and participated in a variety of community service activities.
In addition to heading up the academic support system for the men’s basketball program, she serves as the academic advisor for the women’s soccer and field hockey programs. She also serves as the secondary sport administrator for Men’s Soccer while currently serving on the NCAA Initial Eligibility Waivers Committee.
A native of Morrisville, Pa, Larson is currently an instructor for the first-year Student-Athlete Development course and has previously worked as an instructor for the Livingston College freshman course and the School of Arts & Sciences seminar course for transfer students.
Randi and her husband Benjamin Shove reside in Dunellen.
