An Investigation and Analysis of Graduation Delays Among Undergraduate Sports Majors in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Against the backdrop of nationwide higher education expansion, which has lowered the threshold for university admission, the issue of delayed graduation has become increasingly severe. As a significant segment of higher education students, physical education majors possess unique identity attributes. Compared to "academic students," "arts and sports students" face more pronounced delayed graduation phenomena. Through case interviews with sports students at a Double First-Class university in Southwest China, this study reveals that factors such as training backgrounds, mindset, and learning motivation, combined with the absence of effective academic supervision mechanisms, peer support, and parental backing in universities, make sports students more prone to becoming "chronic truant" and "academic underachievers." This leads to their gradual marginalization in both interpersonal and academic spheres, ultimately resulting in delayed graduation. The path to redemption for delayed graduation among sports students requires reconstructing their value systems, improving academic guidance frameworks, enhancing psychological resilience, and rebuilding social support functions. These measures may mitigate delayed graduation rates and promote students' holistic physical and mental well-being.