By nature I tend to be a very relationship-oriented professional.  I believe that an important part of being a successful professional is first building relationships with students so they know you have an invested interest in their success.  Generally this works well, but occasionally there are challenges to that mentality. 



As an academic coordinator to student-athletes, an important part of being successful is collaborating and communicating with all of the constituents in the student-athletes' lives (coaches, compliance coordinator, professors, etc.).  From time-to-time this can present an ethical dilemma because of the need for information sharing and developmental level of student-athletes. 



One particular situation where my ethical prowess was challenged was related to a student-athlete who is preparing to graduate and needed to speak with his academic advisor regarding his graduation plan.  The student-athlete's coach was simultaneously working to figure out how he was going to be able allocate scholarship funding.  Throughout a meeting, the student-athlete mentioned he had everything taken care of and had met with his advisor already.  Roughly 15 minutes following the meeting, I received a phone call from the student-athlete requesting I don't call his advisor to confirm graduation readiness because he had not actually met with the advisor.  The student-athlete further requested that I not let his coach know that he lied in the meeting. 



Though I am glad this student-athlete feels comfortable in our relationship, it was important that he know I will advocate for him but not lie for him.  As a professional it is important that I maintain appropriate boundaries.  Further, I do not believe in lying. 



I then called the student-athlete back into my office and turned the situation into a learning opportunity.  I explained I would not lie for him and that it was his responsibility (especially as the captain) to follow up with coach and correct his wrong.  Though the student-athlete was unhappy with me for approaching it this way and likely had to do a lot of running the following day, it was an important opportunity for me to assert my ethical and professional values and for him to understand the boundaries of our relationship.