Students may never realize the University they trudge through everyday is actually the headquarters for a national organization.

N.C. State now houses the national headquarters for an advising program, National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, focused on the educational success of collegiate athletes.

According to Megan Albidrez, assistant director of the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes, the advising program fulfills various roles pertaining to athletes, including academic rules and guidelines.

“If there are new rules coming through the NCAA, they’ll come to our group,” she said.

Thomas Conway, dean of undergraduate academic programs, said student athletes are subject to NCAA rules, in addition to general University policies, which reflect in progress toward the students’ degree.

According to Albidrez, the association is making sure students meet these rules, and Conway said the main concern of the program is moving student athletes toward a degree.

“One of the things that N.C. State as an institution is concerned with is the overall success and graduation of all of it’s students,” he said. “[We want] graduation at rates we can be proud of.”

However, according to Phil Moses, director of the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes and a member of the association, the headquarters has a stronger impact on the University than student athletes.

“It’d be a stretch to say that the office creates a direct impact on NCSU student athletes,” he said.

According to Conway, though, the University has taken a national lead in implementing the best practices in student-athlete advisement.

“[The organization] clearly [has] a value in the professional development of advisement of student athletes,” he said.

The program also hosts speakers who relate to athletic programs, according to Moses.

“We would bring people who are leaders in our field on our campus,” he said.

Moses said the program is 31 years old, with about 850 members coast to coast.

Albidrez said two academic advisors from other universities started the program.

According to Albidrez, two academic advisors from other universities started the program, and it now includes academic advisors, learning specialists and high school counselors.

“The group has become more diverse,” she said.

Moses said most of the schools who participate in the program are Division I.

“[However, the program is] also available to Division II [and] Division III [schools],” Moses said.

According to Albidrez, although other universities placed bids on the opportunity to house the national headquarters, NCSU obtained the honor.

“[The decision was] based on the amount of size and other opportunities NCSU could offer,” Albidrez said.

Conway said hosting the headquarters allows other University organizations to gain a unique perspective on design of advising programs.

“Departments that are looking at how they can enhance their advising have programs right here on campus they can look at and consider modeling [themselves] after,” he said.

Albidrez said the headquarters also provides NCSU with easier access to higher ranking officials within the program such as Jane Moore, executive director of National Association Academic Advisors for Athletics.

“Since we house the national office now, we have more influence just because we can talk to Jane [Moore],” Albidrez said. “She’s here everyday.”

According to Moses, it is very simple to become a member of the organization.

“For someone to want to be a member, they [need to] have some responsibility of working with student athletes,” he said. “Typically on a college campus.”

Conway said the organization is open to anyone nationally as well.

“[The program] also has an associate membership,” he said. “Anyone who is interested in the welfare of student athletes and the advisement of student athletes [can join].”