Many college athletes skip class due to training, competition and exhaustion. For these reasons, advocates support exempting athletes from class attendance policies. Others argue that college athletes receive scholarships to attend college and play sports. In contrast, the goal of universities is to educate students. The question is: should college athletes be exempt from class attendance requirements? The answer is no and here's why. First and foremost, athlete education takes priority over recreational activities. Secondly, it is unfair for athletes to receive preferential treatment. Third, exempting athletes from policies does not allow them to develop time management skills. For these reasons, college athletes must attend class and not be exempt from regular class attendance policies. First, educating college athletes is a crucial part of the college experience. However, college athletes receive scholarships and believe they are in college to play and win games. As a result, some people have lost sight of the value of education. After all, student-athletes are students first and athletes second. Despite their extraordinary athletic abilities, these skills cannot overshadow the college's goal of providing an education to students. Placing an emphasis on the athlete's academic achievements will prepare them for the future of tomorrow. Additionally, education expands knowledge, promotes critical thinking, increases potential, and teaches discipline. The common misconception that athletes should focus on winning games and not their academic achievements is a distraction from the process. In theory, athletes must maintain a required GPA (Grade Point Average)... middle of paper.... ..overcomes the drift away from academics and our universities are the standard bearers of maintaining academic standards. Dr. Tublitz said. Athletes who maintain their grades are not dropped from teams. Many former athletes can't find jobs because they didn't attend classes and aren't academically ready. To summarize, student athletes need to attend regular classes to perform well academically. Works Cited Emma, ​​​​Thomas. “A University Perspective on Academics and the Student Athlete.” Coach and sporting director March 2008: 29. MasterFILE Premier. Network. November 18, 2013. Matthews, Frank J. “The Mind in the Middle.” Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 23.4(2006): 36. MasterFILE Premier. Network. November 18, 2013.Yost, Mark. Varsity Green: A behind-the-scenes look at the culture and corruption in college athletics. Stanford, CA: Stanford University, 2010. Print.