Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center

In 1997, I donated $2.5 million towards the construction of The Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center. This donation, in memory of my mother, helped fund the construction of a comprehensive study center for student athletes, providing them with the competitive edge necessary to excel in scholastic and athletic pursuits.

The center enables MSU to offer academic programs for student athletes in many areas, such as the individual tutorial support program, the math enrichment program, math-reading specialist assistance, study skills workshop, learning characteristics services, counseling services, career exploration and development sessions, and computer literacy training. It accommodates the demanding schedules of student athletes and allows them to pursue their academic goals within a more flexible time frame. The center also provides student athletes access to valuable resources and assistance even when other University facilities are closed.

Faculty members have developed and implemented academic support programs in the new center, and those professors and instructors teaching student athletes are given a facility where they are able to meet with the athletes one-on-one or in small groups. The two-story, 31,000 square foot Smith Center serves over 800 student athletes in all of MSU’s 25 Division I sports. It also houses an auditorium, a “hall of fame” gallery, two study halls, a computer laboratory, a computer tutorial room, a student lounge, a conference room, six classrooms, a director’s office, 10 tutoring rooms, seven advisor offices and a reception area.

The Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center helps enable MSU in developing well-rounded students and creating an environment conducive to the academic achievement of student athletes.