The NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved enhancements to the academic standards for incoming freshmen who wish to participate in Division I athletics, effective August 1, 2016. The intent of these changes is to ensure that all student-athletes who enter college are academically prepared for the rigors of a college classroom. The NCAA’s collective aim is to enable student-athlete success on the field, in the classroom, and in life.
The Board gave its support for higher grades and core course progression for prospective student athletes, but also adopted rules that would maintain the test score/grade point average sliding scale at the current level for student-athlete access to financial aid.
AACRAO members should emphasize the following standards to high school student-athletes planning to compete in their first year of college:
• Student-athletes must earn at least a 2.3 grade-point average in the required core courses and achieve a minimum standardized test score (ACT/SAT) according to the NCAA Initial Eligibility sliding scale.
• At least 10 of the required 16 core courses must be earned prior to the start of their senior year of high school. Seven of those must be completed in English, math or science courses.
Students with GPAs that fall between the old and new minimums may be granted an “academic redshirt year,” which allows student-athletes to receive an athletic scholarship and practice with the team in their first academic year in residence. These student-athletes may continue to practice in a subsequent term as long as they pass at least nine semester or eight credit hours in the first term.
Taken as a whole, the academic reform changes adopted by the NCAA should lead to improved graduation performance of student-athletes. The goal of academic reform has been to improve the academic performance of student-athletes while minimizing disparate impact on ethnic minorities. Still, the impact of a more stringent scale on access to higher education, especially for certain socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds, is potentially significant. The NCAA membership expressed concerns about the sliding scale increase, including that it might not have the intended goals, should be implemented on a slower timeline, or that coaches would decline to offer scholarships to players who could not compete in their first year for academic reasons. AACRAO members can share additional information with departments through the NCAA’s Resource presentation.
Downloadable Presentation: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Important_New_Rules/High_School_IE_Standards.pdf
The Board committed to examining the impact of the GPA floor and core-course progression requirements soon after the changes are implemented in 2016. After that review, the presidents will determine whether the changes have had the intended impact or if the sliding scale increase is warranted. Changing the minimum GPA for competition, the core-course progression and core-course GPA calculation are expected to enhance graduation rates while still providing access to college. These higher standards will set student-athletes on the path toward graduation and future success.
NCAA Coverage at AACRAO's 100th Annual Meeting
To get the most updated information and analysis on the NCAA and other issues affecting higher education professionals, attend AACRAO’s Annual Meeting, Education on the Verge: The Precipice of Change, March 30-April 2 in Denver, Colorado.
Two sessions at this year’s meeting will focus on NCAA topics. Holly Smith and Maureen Snow from the NCAA Eligibility Center will discuss amateurism, high school review, academic certification, and other topics. The NCAA’s Andrew Cardamone will explain how legislation adopted by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and other NCAA governance groups will affect NCAA initial eligibility, transfer, and progress toward degree certifications.