Many college athletes miss classes due to training, competition, and exhaustion. For these reasons, advocates argue for exempting athletes from class attendance policies. Others argue that college athletes receive scholarships to attend college and play sports. Rather, the goal of colleges 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, athlete education comes before recreational activities. Second, it is unfair that athletes receive preferential treatment. Third, exempting athletes from policies does not allow them to develop time management skills. For these reasons, college athletes must attend classes and not be exempt from regular class attendance policies. First and foremost, the education of college athletes is a crucial part of the college experience. Nonetheless, 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 education to students. Focusing on the athlete's academic success should prepare them for tomorrow's future. Additionally, education expands knowledge, promotes critical thinking, increases potential, and teaches discipline. The common misconception that athletes should focus on winning games and not achieving academic success is a distraction from the process. Theoretically, athletes must maintain a required Grade Point Average... middle of paper.... ...end academic distancing, and our universities are the standard bearers for maintaining academic standards. » said Dr. Tublitz. Athletes who maintain their grades are not removed from teams. Many former athletes can't find jobs because they haven't taken classes and aren't academically ready. To summarize, student-athletes must attend regular classes to perform well academically. Works Cited Emma, ​​Thomas. “A University Perspective on Academics and Student-Athletes.” Coach and sports director March 2008: 29. MasterFILE Premier. Internet. November 18, 2013. Matthews, Frank J. “The Mind in the Middle.” Miscellaneous: Issues in Higher Education 23.4 (2006): 36. MasterFILE Premier. Internet. 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.