Reconciling Empowerment and Entitlement are terms that require deeper understanding of the complexities involved in each, especially regarding student-athlete development. Presented at the 7th Annual AthLife Foundation Conference on July 15th to decipher this enigma that consumes the world of athletics.

1. 'RECONCILING
EMPOWERMENT VS
ENTITLEMENT'
MR. KENNETH O. MILES, ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR OF ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COX COMMUNICATIONS
ACADEMIC CENTER FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES

2. We are the sum of our total experiences. We are
not the same person that we were yesterday. It is
a fluid process. If we do not mind starting from the
beginning the world is open to us. So by the end of
this presentation, I too, will become apart of your
fluidity.

3. WHAT IS…
Entitlement
• the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given
something
Empowerment
• to promote the self-actualization or influence of

4. WHY IS ENTITLEMENT & EMPOWERMENT SIGNIFICANT…
…Global Impact

5. FROM WHAT LENS ARE WE ADDRESSING THIS…
Educators have expanded roles and influences:
• Parents are coaches.
• Coaches are parents.
• Teachers are parents.
• Teachers are social workers.

6. FROM WHAT LENS ARE WE ADDRESSING THIS…
• Critical Race Theorist
• Intersectionalist
• Morality
• Economist

7. BELIEFS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTITLEMENT…
Want something for free, not earned, is a grant-in-aid free?
Is the notion that education is free?
Is education a right or privilege?
Why does the NCAA assign 20 hours/week as the magic number?
Should the determination of academic hours be regulated by higher
education like athletic hours?
Are entitlement and market value the same?
What makes one feel entitled?

8. BELIEFS OF EMPOWERMENT…
Does empowerment give a voice? Missouri football?
Grambling football?
Is it learned or is it innate?
Should empowerment simply be called education?
What are the synergies between rate of return,
investment, and economic influence/impact?

9. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE ONE CHILD…
• National Association of
Academic Advisors for
Athletics (N4A)
• National Conference on Race
and Ethnicity (NCORE)
• Alliances with
Universities/Colleges
• The Black Man Can Institute
• 100 Black Men
• Fraternities & Sororities
• NAACP
• Chamber of Commerce
• Girl/Boy Scouts of America
• YMCA
• YWCA
• Not For Profit Organizations
• Community Centers

10. CONTACT INFO…
Kenneth O. Miles
LSU Cox Communications Academic Center
for Student-Athletes
100 Gym Armory
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
komiles@lsu.edu
225-578-6518