This study examined academic support programs and personnel that contributed to international student-athlete academic persistence at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I level. The purpose of the study was to identify athletic academic personnel's explanations for the academic persistence of NCAA Division I international student-athletes and identify institutional academic support practices described by athletics academic personnel as important to international student-athlete persistence. Analysis of NCAA Division I graduation rate data published between 2000 and 2009 confirmed that international student-athletes graduate at statistically significant higher rates than domestic peers. Surveys and telephone interviews with athletic academic personnel with responsibilities to international student-athletes were used to identify the type and number of academic support programs used by international student-athletes and gather explanations for their persistence towards degree. Overall, the NCAA Division I institutions that participated in this study did not provide special academic support programs designed specifically for international student-athlete. Rather, the international student-athletes maximized use of the academic support programs offered exclusively for student-athletes, as well as university-wide services. In addition, student-athlete academic support personnel forged meaningful professional relationships with international student-athletes that aided in a successful academic adjustment to college that contributed to persistence. These findings resulted in recommendations to NCAA Division I academic support personnel for improvement of academic support programs for student-athletes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]