Building School Spirit, Increasing Participation
and Inspiring Achievement

An enterprise powered by Varsity Brands, Varsity University® offers comprehensive
educational programming to schools and athletic programs nationwide. Through a
combination of specialized online courses and in-person seminars, Varsity University®
provides the resources necessary for educators, coaches and gym owners to enhance
the student experience and achieve in every aspect of sport.

LEARNING MODULES

Each of our dynamic learning modules contains three courses: one for educators, one for coaches and one for students. Each course includes a 15-minute instructional video, comprehensive lesson plans, and a 10-question quiz. Upon successful completion of the quiz, participants will receive a certificate earning one professional development hour, endorsed by Sterling College. The accompanying lesson plans can be utilized during homeroom, activity periods, or team meetings. Course lessons vary in length, providing the administrator the autonomy to lengthen or shorten as needed.

Varsity University currently offers nine courses within three dynamic learning modules:

Life Skills 101: Influencing Student Success
Course Description: The average high school student spends more time each day with teachers than with their own parents. However, many schools struggle to make room in the curriculum to teach students necessary life skills. Furthermore, few resources exist to help teachers integrate life skills lessons into everyday teaching. Through this course, educators can go back to basics with step-by-step guidance to incorporate communication and time management skills into everyday teaching strategies. In short, this course enables teachers to double their educational impact through thoughtful implementation of life skills exercises.

Life Skills 102: The Role Coaches Play in Student Success
Course Description: It’s no secret – involvement in athletics helps students develop life skills from teamwork to problem-solving to social aptitude. So much of life skill maturation depends on a coach’s ability to create an atmosphere that fosters positive relationships and student growth. Through this course, coaches learn how to best assist students in the development of life skills through positive coaching and the cultivation of relationships that go beyond the sport. Coaches will learn to leave a legacy that not only produces excellent athletes, but successful human beings.

Life Skills 103: Skills for Student Success
Course Description: In order to succeed, students need two types of skills: practical skills – basic reading, writing, and arithmetic – and life skills. Teaching certain life skills will help students will become citizens and more active classroom participants. Through this course, teachers can give students basic information about effective communication, time management and the abilities required to succeed in post-graduate life.

Leadership 101: Cultivating Leaders
Course Description: In our rapidly diversifying world, educators must be able to create an environment where students of all backgrounds can lead and succeed. This course gives teachers the opportunity to reflect on current classroom culture, leadership style and teaching trends, with a focus on implementing inclusive and equitable classroom practices. Ultimately, teachers will receive the information necessary to effectively cultivate leadership among an increasingly diverse student population.

Leadership 102: Leadership Through Motivation
Course Description: Coaches juggle numerous leadership roles, from instructor to mentor to counselor to friend. But, in order to inspire athletic achievement, coaches must develop strong motivation skills. In this course, lessons on effective constructive criticism, conflict management and leadership style are paired with a breakdown of the psychology of motivation. Coaches will develop a more sophisticated understanding of the brain’s response to various motivators. Together, these lessons will become your school’s go-to toolkit for athletic success.

Leadership 103: Developing Leadership in the Digital Era
Course Description: Good leaders come in many forms, and every student has the ability to lead when presented with an environment that caters to their specific passions and skills. In this course, teachers get a crash course on the most common leadership styles, with a focus on the relationship between personality and proficiency. In essence, this course will enable teachers to empower students to recognize their skill sets and play to their strengths.

Social Media 101: Protecting Yourself
Course Description: Through social media, today’s teachers have the ability to put information into the palm of any student’s hand. This course provides the information necessary to use any major social platform, along with insider tips to take daily lessons beyond the classroom and into the world of online engagement. This course also includes the dos and don’ts of online interaction with students, equipping educators the tools required to maintain a responsible and professional student/teacher discourse.

Social Media 102: More Than Just a Post
Course Description: For high school athletic programs, social media has the potential to boost fan following and drive school spirit. But with so many social platforms to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s where we come in. In this course, coaches will learn the basics of every major social media network, with a focus on how each platform can be utilized to communicate to athletes, rally fans, and please parents.

Social Media 103: Branding Yourself
Course Description: These days, most students are active on social media. But, many struggle to use social media professionally and responsibly. This course can help teachers educate students about their “digital footprint” and how a social media presence can work to their professional advantage (or disadvantage). With lessons ranging from online security to social media literacy, this course will help your students maximize their relationship to social media.